Head-to-head comparison
Capella University vs Lake Superior College: 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 Duluth, MN
Lake Superior College
- Net price / year
- $15,492
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,449
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lake Superior College comes closer — median earnings $46,449 against a $30,984 total, vs $42,189 at Capella University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Lake Superior College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $15,492 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $30,984 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $46,449 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $12,775 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$69,204 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Lake Superior College?
Lake Superior College, at $15,492 a year after aid versus $17,956 — a gap of $2,464 a year, or $40,840 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 Lake Superior College graduates earn more?
Lake Superior College graduates report a median $46,449 ten years after entry, $4,260 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Capella University or Lake Superior College?
Lake Superior College: its completers carry a median $12,775 in federal loans versus $14,968 at Capella University, a difference of $2,193. 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?
42% of students finish at Lake Superior 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.