Capella University vs Century College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Century College comes closer — median earnings $46,424 against a $43,624 total, vs $42,189 at Capella University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Century College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $10,906 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $43,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $46,424 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $14,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$82,344 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Century College?
Century College, at $10,906 a year after aid versus $17,956 — a gap of $7,050 a year, or $28,200 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Capella University or Century College graduates earn more?
Century College graduates report a median $46,424 ten years after entry, $4,235 more than the $42,189 at Capella University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Capella University or Century College?
Century College: its completers carry a median $14,250 in federal loans versus $14,968 at Capella University, a difference of $718. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
31% of students finish at Century College, against 20% at Capella University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.