Private For-Profit Graduate Fair 48/100

Capella University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Minneapolis, Minnesota

About Capella University

Capella University is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It enrolls 18,364 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
21%
Net Price
$17,956
Median Earnings (10yr)
$42,189
Enrollment
18,364
Student : Faculty
36:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Quarter

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Fair
48/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 13
Value 35
Affordability 42
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Capella University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Capella University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,956 per year. That's below the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$17,956
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
47%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$14,400
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,350
Books & Supplies
$425
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,092
Total Cost of Attendance
$22,820

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $17,485
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $17,324
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $17,490
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $21,292
  • Over $110,000
    $22,820

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,678
10% percentile
$3,471
25% percentile
$14,968
Median percentile
$23,976
75% percentile
$38,339
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,135 ↓ $5,833
No Pell $7,942 ↓ $7,026
Dependent students $5,625 ↓ $9,343
Independent students $9,031 ↓ $5,937
Female students $8,334 ↓ $6,634
Male students $9,889 ↓ $5,079
Pell recipients: 18.3% (2,737 students)No Pell: 15.9% (2,380 students)Dependent students: 11.3% (1,685 students)Independent students: 18.1% (2,706 students)Female students: 16.7% (2,497 students)Male students: 19.8% (2,963 students)Overall Median$14,968
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,414, less than completers ($14,968), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

21% of full-time students who enrolled at Capella University graduate within six years, and 37% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
21%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
37%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Capella University earn a median of $42,189 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,189
Earning > $25K
65%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$41,000$43,000$45,000$47,000$49,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$59,200

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$85,400

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$44,900

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$68,300

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$93,200

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $26,200, about 31% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 25.6 pts across 6 years
51.3%1yr59.5%3yr68.1%5yr76.9%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Capella University is home to 18,364 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 50% are first-generation college students, 68% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
18,364
Part-Time
68%
First-Generation
50%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 44.4% 8,155
Black 27.8% 5,098
Hispanic 14.7% 2,705
Other 4.7% 867
Asian 3.6% 667
International 0.6% 107
White: 44.4% (8,155 students)Black: 27.8% (5,098 students)Hispanic: 14.7% (2,705 students)Other: 4.7% (867 students)Asian: 3.6% (667 students)International: 0.6% (107 students)Total18,364

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Capella University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Minneapolis, Minnesota
Housing
Commuter campus Online-only, no physical campus
Adult Learners
92% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarter scheduling structure
Designation
Online-only institution

What You Can Study

Capella University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 93 distinct programs across 9 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

19 Programs
17 Programs
12 Programs
7 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Capella University is 36:1, high (larger classes are common).

Student : Faculty
36:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,431
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

168 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
No Rank 168 100% $67,431

Pros & Cons of Capella University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Capella University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Capella University is a fit for working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Capella University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Capella University.

How much does Capella University cost?
The average net price after aid at Capella University is $17,956 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Capella University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,189 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,956 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Capella University known for?
Capella University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Counseling Psychology, Mental Health Services. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Capella University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Capella University are $42,189, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Capella University accredited?
Yes. Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Capella University?
Capella University enrolls 18,364 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Capella University?
Capella University graduates 21% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Capella University a public or private college?
Capella University is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Capella University located?
Capella University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
What programs does Capella University offer?
Capella University offers 93 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Counseling Psychology, Mental Health Services.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Capella University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Capella University is 36:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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