Capella University vs Minneapolis College of Art and Design: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Capella University comes closer — median earnings $42,189 against a $71,824 total, vs $40,873 at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Minneapolis College of Art and Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $29,926 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $119,704 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $40,873 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$269,444 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Minneapolis College of Art and Design?
Capella University, at $17,956 a year after aid versus $29,926 — a gap of $11,970 a year, or $47,880 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 Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduates earn more?
Capella University graduates report a median $42,189 ten years after entry, $1,316 more than the $40,873 at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. 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 Minneapolis College of Art and Design?
Capella University: its completers carry a median $14,968 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, a difference of $12,032. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 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.