School Profile

As an accredited university, Capella University takes online education to a higher level. We believe that real, life-changing learning happens in an environment of academic excellence, challenge, and personal connection.

University Mission

The mission of Capella University is to extend access to high quality bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs for adults who seek to maximize their personal and professional potential. This mission is fulfilled through innovative programs that are responsive to the needs of adult learners and involve active, engaging, challenging, and relevant learning experiences offered in a variety of delivery modes.

Capella History

Capella University was the inspiration of Stephen Shank, former CEO of Tonka Corporation, who felt that many adults were underserved by traditional universities. He envisioned a high-quality university that people could attend from any location.

In 1991, Shank established the corporate entity that would become Capella Education Company. In 1993, Dr. Harold Abel, an experienced leader in higher education and former president of three universities, joined Shank to found The Graduate School of America, now called Capella University. Originally, the university offered online master’s and doctoral degrees in management, education, and human services.

Today, Capella University offers more than 970 online courses and 21 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in 109 specialized areas of study. Capella’s more than 23,700 learners include a diverse group of adults from all 50 states and 45 countries.

Admissions

Please click "Get FREE Information", complete and submit the form to contact an Admissions Advisor.

Programs / Majors

Financial Aid

The value of a Capella University education can be measured in many ways—from professional benefits like increased earning power to greater marketability in the workforce. Your education is an investment and one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Enrollment counselors at Capella will discuss your estimated total costs and provide options for financing and reducing tuition costs through transfer credit and reimbursement programs.

Finance your Education

You have many options, ranging from Capella grants and scholarships to private loans, to make the pursuit of your education goals attainable.

Financial Aid

More than 75 percent of our learners receive some form of financial aid to support their education investment.

Federal Financial Aid

Non-Federal Student Loans

Scholarships & Grants

Reduce Tuition Costs

Learn more about how your current employer benefits, previous course work experience, and United States Armed Forces service and training may help reduce your bottom-line tuition costs.

Transfer Credit

Veterans Benefit Programs

U.S. Armed Forces Education Discounts

Employer Reimbursement

Corporate Alliances

FAQs and Financial Aid Policy

Note: You must be enrolled at least half time to qualify for federal financial aid. Please click “Get FREE Information” to contact our financial advisors.

Accreditation

University Accreditation — A Critical Credential

Accreditation is an important credential to look for when choosing a university. If you have credits to transfer, you want to make sure both universities are accredited and allow transfer of credits. Accreditation is also important for your degree to be recognized by employers and professional associations. Accreditation is an assurance to students and the public that an institution meets or exceeds standards for quality of faculty, curriculum, learner services, and fiscal stability.

Capella University’s Accreditation

Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org.
Capella University, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402.

Leading the Way for Quality Online Education

In 2000, Capella University became the first online academic institution to become a charter participant of the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) of the NCA. AQIP participants commit to a program of continuous quality improvement (CQI) similar to initiatives practiced in other industries.

AQIP provides an alternative model of accreditation maintenance with The Higher Learning Commission. Instead of the traditional 10-year review cycle, AQIP participants adhere to an ongoing annual review regimen. By participating in AQIP, Capella is required to analyze its operational processes and measure outcomes within each of nine different quality criteria, and to set ambitious performance goals, such as converting all its courses to an outcomes/competency-based model.

What Types of Accreditation are Available?

Regional accreditation agencies accredit public and private, non-profit and for-profit, and undergraduate and graduate institutions in the United States. Capella University has this type of accreditation.

Specialized and professional accrediting organizations accredit specific programs or schools such as law and business schools, or programs in educational administration and teacher education. For example, the American Counseling Association’s Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has accredited Capella’s mental health counseling and marital, couple and family counseling/therapy specializations in the School of Human Services.

National accrediting bodies accredit a wide variety of institutions, most frequently single-purpose institutions (e.g., flight schools), private career institutions, and religiously-affiliated colleges and universities.