Capella University vs Pine Technical & Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pine Technical & Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,232 against a $51,192 total, vs $42,189 at Capella University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Pine Technical & Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $12,798 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $51,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $41,232 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $14,392 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$193,752 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Pine Technical & Community College?
Pine Technical & Community College, at $12,798 a year after aid versus $17,956 — a gap of $5,158 a year, or $20,632 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 Pine Technical & Community College graduates earn more?
Capella University graduates report a median $42,189 ten years after entry, $957 more than the $41,232 at Pine Technical & Community 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 Pine Technical & Community College?
Pine Technical & Community College: its completers carry a median $14,392 in federal loans versus $14,968 at Capella University, a difference of $576. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
36% of students finish at Pine Technical & Community 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.