St. Cloud State University vs. Capella University

Should I go to Saint Cloud State University or Capella University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if St. Cloud State University or Capella University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Saint Cloud State University vs. Capella University comparison
Saint Cloud State University Capella University College 3 College 4
Saint Cloud State University
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Overview

 St. Cloud State University Capella University
Location Saint Cloud, MN Minneapolis, MN
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 10,420 39,727
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #710
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit For-profit
Website stcloudstate.edu capella.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 St. Cloud State University Capella University
Tuition (In State) $8,811 $14,328
Tuition (Out of State) $18,695 $14,328
Room & Board $9,950 $6,270
Avg Net Price $14,065 $14,935
Avg Grant Aid $6,042 $6,637
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 57%

Admission

 St. Cloud State University Capella University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,810 -
Admitted 4,583 -
Acceptance Rate 95.3%
Enrolled % 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 1027/1200
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 St. Cloud State University Capella University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 35:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Business (62%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (32%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (3%)
  • Health Professions (2%)
  • Psychology (1%)

Outcomes

 St. Cloud State University Capella University
Graduation Rate 48% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,700 $70,400
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 28%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $28,056
Median Loan Payment $232 $290

Diversity

 St. Cloud State University Capella University
% Men 43% 17%
% Women 57% 83%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 73% 45%
% Black 7% 26%
% Hispanic 3% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 7% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 16%

Students

 St. Cloud State University Capella University
% In-State 75% 0%
% Out-of-State 11% 100%

Campus

 St. Cloud State University Capella University
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Capella University is larger than than St. Cloud State University based on total student enrollment (39,727 students vs. 10,420 students)

St. Cloud State University vs. Capella University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Cloud State University or Capella University?

  • Capella University is 62.6% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($14,328.00 vs. $8,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.5% higher at St. Cloud State University than Capella University ($18,695.00 vs. $14,328.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than Capella University ($14,065 vs. $14,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Capella University are 58.7% lower than costs at Saint Cloud State University ($6,270 vs. $9,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Cloud State University than Capella University (98% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Capella University students is 9.8% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($6,637 vs. $6,042)

Which college is harder to get into, St. Cloud State University or Capella University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Capella University or St. Cloud State University .

St. Cloud State University vs. Capella University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, St. Cloud State University or Capella University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Capella University and St. Cloud State University.

  • Graduates from Capella University earn on average $23,700 more per year than St. Cloud State University graduates after ten years. ($70,400 vs. $46,700)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $5,556 lower median federal student loan debt than Capella University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $28,056)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $58 less per month on federal student loans than Capella University graduates. ($232 vs. $290)
  • More St. Cloud State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Capella University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 28%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/