Capella University vs Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center: 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 $22,606 at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $17,649 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $70,596 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $22,606 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$585,676 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center?
Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center, at $17,649 a year after aid versus $17,956 — a gap of $307 a year, or $1,228 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 Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center graduates earn more?
Capella University graduates report a median $42,189 ten years after entry, $19,583 more than the $22,606 at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center. 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 graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center, 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.