Head-to-head comparison
Capella University vs Rasmussen University-Minnesota: 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. Cloud, MN
Rasmussen University-Minnesota
- Net price / year
- $17,962
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,080
- 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 $39,080 at Rasmussen University-Minnesota. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Rasmussen University-Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $17,962 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $71,848 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $39,080 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $20,899 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$257,448 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Rasmussen University-Minnesota?
Capella University, at $17,956 a year after aid versus $17,962 — a gap of $6 a year, or $24 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 Rasmussen University-Minnesota graduates earn more?
Capella University graduates report a median $42,189 ten years after entry, $3,109 more than the $39,080 at Rasmussen University-Minnesota. 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 Rasmussen University-Minnesota?
Capella University: its completers carry a median $14,968 in federal loans versus $20,899 at Rasmussen University-Minnesota, a difference of $5,931. 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?
53% of students finish at Rasmussen University-Minnesota, 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.