Capella University vs Northwest Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northwest Technical College comes closer — median earnings $42,930 against a $43,984 total, vs $42,189 at Capella University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Northwest Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $10,996 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $43,984 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $42,930 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$152,584 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Northwest Technical College?
Northwest Technical College, at $10,996 a year after aid versus $17,956 — a gap of $6,960 a year, or $27,840 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 Northwest Technical College graduates earn more?
Northwest Technical College graduates report a median $42,930 ten years after entry, $741 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 Northwest Technical College?
Capella University: its completers carry a median $14,968 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Northwest Technical College, a difference of $32. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Northwest Technical 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.