Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Capella University is a for-profit online college. Capella University has an open admissions policy.
Return on educational investment at Capella University is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $59,307 10 years after enrolling, 11th among online schools, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Capella University bachelor students earn 20% more than the national average.
Capella University’s median net annual cost of $16,545 and average years to graduate of 4.3 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Capella University sorted by number of graduates - Registered Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology, Health Administrative Services, HR Management, Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$16,545
Average years to graduate
4.3
Homeland Security
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 1.03
Computer science
Rank: #36
Economic score: 1.65
Medical informatics
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 2.9
Finance
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 2.95
Accounting
Rank: #73
Economic score: 3.26
Marketing
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 3.3
Criminal Justice
Rank: #142
Economic score: 5.96
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Capella University - Clinical / Counseling Psych, Mental & Social Health Services, Business Administration, Registered Nursing, Health Administrative Services, HR Management - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
Rank: #18
Economic score: 0.49
Medical informatics
Rank: #7
Economic score: 0.5
Educ. Administration
Rank: #152
Economic score: 0.6
Education
Rank: #122
Economic score: 0.78
Public Health
Rank: #55
Economic score: 0.91
Public Administration
Rank: #78
Economic score: 0.93
Psychology
Rank: #12
Economic score: 1.12
Criminal Justice
Rank: #75
Economic score: 1.4
Research&Experimental Psych
Rank: #4
Economic score: 1.43
Student Counseling
Rank: #59
Economic score: 1.5
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.3 years. 39% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Capella University is 11% lower than the state average, and 28% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Capella University, Pell Grant recipients represent 34% of the measured graduating class, 1% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Capella University graduates within 4.3 years.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Capella University’s economic mobility score of 4.57 is calculated by adjusting the 9.55 economic score of lower-income students by the 34% pell grant recipients within the student body. Capella University’s EMS of 4.57 ranks in the bottom 5% nationally. Please note that the economic mobility score considers only students that have graduated.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 5%
The average Title IV recipient at Capella University pays $16,545 a year, $4,497 less than the $21,042 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $16,545
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Capella University, 100% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $16,545 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 100% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,943. This is 46% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$7,943
Pell grants
$3,107
Institutional grants
$1,953
Full time
2%
83%
Female
75%
59%
First time
17%
59%
In-state
N/A
68%
1st generation
50%
35%
White
50%
52%
Black
19%
14%
Hispanic
10%
15%
Asian
3%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
1%
0.3%
Other
16%
12%