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Capella University

Median Salary (5 years)

Bachelor's

$78,942

Master's

$65,090

Doctoral

$89,744

Want an online degree that's:

  • Affordable
  • Popular
  • Highly Rated
  • Military-friendly

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Written by OnlineU Writers • Updated 2/6/2023

Capella University is a private, for-profit institution with 11,773 undergraduate students and a 16% graduation rate, according to data. It's an online-only school with over 50 degrees including 8 online bachelor's degrees, 22 online master's degrees, 17 doctorate degrees, and 5 certificates. The areas of study at the undergraduate level include business, healthcare, psychology, social work, and public health. 

OnlineU's Salary Score compares alumni salaries from different schools using the same degree. Capella has a 91.76 score out of 100, making it the third highest score for online colleges in the country.

Rankings

Median Salary for Online Degrees at Capella University

Bachelor's Degrees

Field of Study Median Salary (1 year) Median Salary (5 years)
Accounting and Related Services $57,201 $58,281
Business Administration, Management and Operations $68,701 $81,606
Computer and Information Sciences, General $74,674 $90,245
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management $86,085 $110,796
Criminal Justice and Corrections $47,606 $56,994
Finance and Financial Management Services Not Reported $73,069
Health and Medical Administrative Services $62,091 $71,538
Homeland Security Not Reported $79,917
Human Resources Management and Services $64,834 $66,122
Marketing $55,495 $70,182
Psychology, General $39,764 $48,007
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing $85,426 $96,740

Master's Degrees

Field of Study Median Salary (1 year) Median Salary (5 years)
Accounting and Related Services $76,373 $70,121
Business Administration, Management and Operations $80,504 $79,520
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology $52,074 $60,200
Computer and Information Sciences, General Not Reported $86,694
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management $86,399 $109,410
Criminal Justice and Corrections $54,384 $50,525
Curriculum and Instruction $58,852 $62,148
Education, Other $62,454 $64,731
Educational Administration and Supervision $64,020 $68,462
Educational/Instructional Media Design $69,545 $72,004
Finance and Financial Management Services $63,888 $86,561
Gerontology $46,436 $61,369
Health and Medical Administrative Services $83,480 $70,150
Homeland Security $66,898 $74,475
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services $45,087 $49,835
Human Resources Management and Services $63,749 $74,146
Human Services, General $52,083 $50,799
Management Information Systems and Services Not Reported $122,626
Marketing $66,153 $55,164
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions $51,715 $54,422
Psychology, General $46,920 $50,381
Psychology, Other $42,199 $54,520
Public Administration $59,980 $67,061
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other Not Reported $44,245
Public Health $63,277 $67,016
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing $106,264 $115,444
Research and Experimental Psychology $45,399 $48,770
Social Sciences, Other $41,543 $49,158
Special Education and Teaching $54,641 $59,188
Student Counseling and Personnel Services Not Reported $57,348
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods $52,562 $57,778
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas $93,267 $73,065

Doctoral Degrees

Field of Study Median Salary (1 year) Median Salary (5 years)
Business Administration, Management and Operations $106,680 $92,085
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology $72,328 $95,197
Curriculum and Instruction $77,115 $87,181
Education, General $92,353 $81,967
Education, Other $89,907 $89,032
Educational Administration and Supervision $82,466 $91,543
Educational/Instructional Media Design $77,930 $115,093
Health and Medical Administrative Services $103,817 $125,096
Human Resources Management and Services Not Reported $83,336
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions $47,168 $55,018
Psychology, General $77,178 $76,591
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing $125,356 $127,480
Social Work $80,985 $93,709
Student Counseling and Personnel Services $51,446 $57,252
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods $87,860 $100,634
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas $92,675 $102,252

FAQs About Capella University

Is Capella University Online?


Capella 100% remote and one of the most popular online schools. It offers two different paths for remote learning: 

(1) FlexPath allows students to set their own deadlines while taking only one to two courses at a time. Once a course is finished, they can move on to the next without waiting for a new term to start. 

(2) GuidedPath, on the other hand, puts assignments on set schedules but allows students to take up to three courses each quarter. 

Is Capella University a Degree Mill?


Diploma mills are categorized as providing illegitimate diplomas to graduates. Capella is an accredited institution, which means its degrees have been inspected for quality and are legitimate. Specifically, Capella University is accredited by the , an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

All schools featured on OnlineU are accredited.

Is There a Class Action Lawsuit Against Capella University?


Capella was sued in a class action lawsuit in 2018 by two doctoral students. They alleged the school misled them about how long their degree would take and the amount of money they would need to spend in order to graduate. New plaintiffs were added two years later after the judge dismissed 42 of the original 45 counts. In April 2022, the through private mediation.

What Is Capella University Known For?


Capella is known for its . This format involves teaching practical skills that directly translate to the professional world. Curriculums are designed with the help of industry experts and students are graded on how well they apply their understanding of a certain subject rather than how well they memorize information. The purpose is to prepare students to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

Which Degrees at Capella University Provide the Highest Earnings for Graduates?


The highest earning degree from Capella can be found in the field of computer and information science. This includes the school's online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. According to College Scorecard, students can earn a median annual salary of $96,300 in the three years after graduation. The second highest degree is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) with an expected salary of $75,500.

As mentioned above, Salary Score is another helpful metric for determining potential earnings. OnlineU finds this score by comparing Capella's alumni salaries with other graduates who earned the same degree at another school. Overall, Capella earned a 92 out of 100 for bachelor's degrees and 45 out of 100 for master's degrees. 

Does Capella University Accept Everyone?


Data from College Scorecard shows Capella as having a 100% acceptance rate. This means that there is an open admissions policy and all applicants are accepted. 

Furthermore, Capella is a test-optional school. In other words, high school students who haven't taken their college entrance exams can still apply. This makes the school more accessible to a wider range of applicants with diverse educational backgrounds. 

What Are the Admission Requirements for Capella University?


Students applying to college at Capella at the associate, certificate, or bachelor's level do not need to meet specific GPA requirements to apply. However, those applying for the RN to BSN program that have already completed an associate degree must have a 2.0 GPA to be considered. 

Complete the following steps to apply for a bachelor's program:

  • Fill out .
  • Submit transcripts from previous academic institutions.
  • Provide a government-issued ID.

Capella also states that bachelor's degree applicants must be at least 24 years old, with some exceptions. This requirement may be waived for veterans, transfer students, and Capella Jumpstart participants. Capella is among the top online colleges with the most adult students