Capella University vs Minneapolis Community and Technical College: 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 $40,086 at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Minneapolis Community and Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $13,812 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $55,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $40,086 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $17,954 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$220,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Minneapolis Community and Technical College?
Minneapolis Community and Technical College, at $13,812 a year after aid versus $17,956 — a gap of $4,144 a year, or $16,576 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 Community and Technical College graduates earn more?
Capella University graduates report a median $42,189 ten years after entry, $2,103 more than the $40,086 at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. 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 Community and Technical College?
Capella University: its completers carry a median $14,968 in federal loans versus $17,954 at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, a difference of $2,986. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
20% of students finish at Capella University, against 20% at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. 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.