Head-to-head comparison
Capella University vs Minnesota State University-Mankato: 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 Mankato, MN
Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Net price / year
- $19,139
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,922
- Payback
- 8.9 yrs
Minnesota State University-Mankato has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $76,556 in 8.9 years versus not at all at Capella University, on median earnings of $56,922 vs $42,189 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Minnesota State University-Mankato |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $19,139 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $76,556 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $56,922 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $21,106 |
| Payback | — | 8.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | $94,684 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Minnesota State University-Mankato?
Capella University, at $17,956 a year after aid versus $19,139 — a gap of $1,183 a year, or $4,732 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 Minnesota State University-Mankato graduates earn more?
Minnesota State University-Mankato graduates report a median $56,922 ten years after entry, $14,733 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 Minnesota State University-Mankato?
Capella University: its completers carry a median $14,968 in federal loans versus $21,106 at Minnesota State University-Mankato, a difference of $6,138. 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?
54% of students finish at Minnesota State University-Mankato, 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.