Capella University vs Ridgewater College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ridgewater College comes closer — median earnings $43,827 against a $20,092 total, vs $42,189 at Capella University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Ridgewater College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $10,046 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $20,092 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $43,827 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$110,752 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Ridgewater College?
Ridgewater College, at $10,046 a year after aid versus $17,956 — a gap of $7,910 a year, or $51,732 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 Ridgewater College graduates earn more?
Ridgewater College graduates report a median $43,827 ten years after entry, $1,638 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 Ridgewater College?
Ridgewater College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $14,968 at Capella University, a difference of $2,968. 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 Ridgewater 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.