Head-to-head comparison
Capella University vs Herzing University-Minneapolis: which has better ROI?
Option A Minneapolis, MN
Capella University
- Net price / year
- $17,956
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,189
- Payback
- No payback
Option B St. Louis Park, MN
Herzing University-Minneapolis
- Net price / year
- $16,670
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,909
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Capella University comes closer — median earnings $42,189 against a $71,824 total, vs $36,909 at Herzing University-Minneapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Herzing University-Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $16,670 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $66,680 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $36,909 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $21,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$295,700 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Herzing University-Minneapolis?
Herzing University-Minneapolis, at $16,670 a year after aid versus $17,956 — a gap of $1,286 a year, or $5,144 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Capella University or Herzing University-Minneapolis graduates earn more?
Capella University graduates report a median $42,189 ten years after entry, $5,280 more than the $36,909 at Herzing University-Minneapolis. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Capella University or Herzing University-Minneapolis?
Capella University: its completers carry a median $14,968 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Herzing University-Minneapolis, a difference of $6,532. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
47% of students finish at Herzing University-Minneapolis, 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.