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Compare Metropolitan State University vs Capella University

Saint Paul, MN · Minneapolis, MN

Metropolitan State UniversityCapella University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$16,863/yr$17,956/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$15,238/yr$17,485/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$17,100$14,968
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$16,656/yr$17,324/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$16,659/yr$17,490/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$18,994/yr$21,292/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$21,905/yr$22,820/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$181/mo$159/mo
Room & board (off campus)$15,864/yr$7,350/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,500/yr$425/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$25,172/yr$22,820/yr
Tuition (in-state)$9,840/yr$14,400/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$9,840/yr$14,400/yr
Students with Pell Grants48%39%
Students taking federal loans31%47%
Getting in
Students who get accepted99%No data reported
SAT average1020No data reported
ACT range (middle 50%)16–21No data reported
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 12–23 · Math 15–21No data reported
Admissions data fromFall 2023No data reported
Applications received542No data reported
Students accepted523No data reported
Students who enrolled158No data reported
Accepted students who enroll30%No data reported
Enrolled who sent ACT scores8%No data reported
High-school GPARequiredNo data reported
High-school transcriptRequiredNo data reported
EssayOptional (considered if sent)No data reported
Recommendation lettersNot consideredNo data reported
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)No data reported
College-prep programNot consideredNo data reported
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNo data reported
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)No data reported
English proficiency testRequiredNo data reported
Other admission testsNot consideredNo data reported
Legacy consideredNot consideredNo data reported
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Open admission (everyone qualified gets in)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate44%20%
Freshmen who come back68%42%
Typical earnings 10 years in$64,705/yr$42,189/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$44,236–$89,487$20,330–$69,019
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)58%32%
White students graduating65%22%
Black students graduating24%33%
Hispanic students graduating0%0%
Asian students graduating49%No data reported
Typical earnings 6 years in$54,828/yr$48,500/yr
Earn more than a HS grad79%81%
Graduate on time27%20%
Pell students who graduate41%17%
First-gen students who finish52%21%
Low-income students who finish50%13%
Students who transfer out36%27%
Typical earnings 8 years in$59,836/yr$43,273/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 25% · Computer & Information Sciences 18% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 10%Health Professions 80% · Psychology 9% · Business, Management & Marketing 9%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 25% of degreesHealth Professions — 80% of degrees
2nd most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 18% of degreesPsychology — 9% of degrees
3rd most popular programMulti/Interdisciplinary Studies — 10% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 9% of degrees
4th most popular programHealth Professions — 10% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 2% of degrees
5th most popular programPsychology — 8% of degreesPublic Administration & Social Service — <1% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $77,421/yrComputer/Information Technology Administration and Management — $152,737/yr
Degrees in STEM22%1.6%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment5,61618,364
Students per professor15 : 141 : 1
Graduate students75629,395
Average professor pay$11,336/mo$7,627/mo
Full-time professors35%12%
Fully onlineNoYes — fully online
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$28,315$31,525
SettingCity (large)City (large)
LocationSaint Paul, MNMinneapolis, MN
RegionPlainsPlains
Founded19711993
Public or privatePublicFor-profit
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsDoctoral/Professional Universities
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students1.6%0.6%
Men43%15%
Women57%85%
White students33%44%
Black students35%28%
Hispanic or Latino students8.2%15%
Asian students16%3.6%
Two or more races4.8%3.9%
Other / not reported1.2%5%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students37%50%
Part-time students48%68%
Students age 25+54%92%
Spent on teaching per student$7,600/yr$1,815/yr
Endowment$9.7MNo data reported
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingNo — no campus housingNo — no campus housing
Meal plan offeredNoNo
Academic calendarSemesterQuarter
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesNo
Undergraduate researchYesNo
ROTCNoNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoYes
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesYesNo
Teacher certificationYesNo
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesNoNo
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolNoYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationNoNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
College sports levelNo intercollegiate athletics reportedNo intercollegiate athletics reported

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.