Capella University vs Rasmussen University-Minnesota: 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 $39,080 at Rasmussen University-Minnesota. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Rasmussen University-Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $17,962 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $71,848 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $39,080 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $20,899 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$257,448 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Rasmussen University-Minnesota?
Capella University, at $17,956 a year after aid versus $17,962 — a gap of $6 a year, or $24 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 Rasmussen University-Minnesota graduates earn more?
Capella University graduates report a median $42,189 ten years after entry, $3,109 more than the $39,080 at Rasmussen University-Minnesota. 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 Rasmussen University-Minnesota?
Capella University: its completers carry a median $14,968 in federal loans versus $20,899 at Rasmussen University-Minnesota, a difference of $5,931. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at Rasmussen University-Minnesota, 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.