Capella University vs Minnesota State College Southeast: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Minnesota State College Southeast comes closer — median earnings $43,613 against a $64,560 total, vs $42,189 at Capella University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Minnesota State College Southeast |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $16,140 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $64,560 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $43,613 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $12,971 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$159,500 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Minnesota State College Southeast?
Minnesota State College Southeast, at $16,140 a year after aid versus $17,956 — a gap of $1,816 a year, or $7,264 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 Minnesota State College Southeast graduates earn more?
Minnesota State College Southeast graduates report a median $43,613 ten years after entry, $1,424 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 Minnesota State College Southeast?
Minnesota State College Southeast: its completers carry a median $12,971 in federal loans versus $14,968 at Capella University, a difference of $1,997. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
47% of students finish at Minnesota State College Southeast, 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.