Head to head
Capella University vs Walden University
Capella University (Minneapolis, MN) and Walden University (Minneapolis, MN) compared on cost, admissions, size, and outcomes, using each college’s own federal reporting. Every comparison below is drawn from figures both colleges report — where only one reports a number, no comparison is made.
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | Capella University | Walden University |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis, MN |
| Institution type | University | University |
| Public or private | Private | Private |
| Campus setting | Urban | Urban |
| Published in-state tuitionSticker price before aid | $14,400 | $12,762 |
| Published out-of-state tuition | $14,400 | $12,762 |
| Average net priceAverage paid after grants and scholarships | $17,956 | $33,817 |
| Acceptance rate | 100% | 100% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | Not reported | Not reported |
| Total enrollment | 43,911 | 44,198 |
| Graduation rate | 20% | Not reported |
| First-year retention | 42% | Not reported |
What the numbers show
- Walden University has the lower published in-state tuition ($12,762 vs $14,400 at Capella University).
- Walden University has the lower published out-of-state tuition ($12,762 vs $14,400 at Capella University).
- Capella University has the lower average net price after aid ($17,956 vs $33,817 at Walden University).
- Capella University and Walden University report the same acceptance rate (100%).
- Walden University has the larger student body (44,198 students vs 43,911 students at Capella University).
How to read this comparison
Every statement above is a direct comparison of two reported figures, and appears only when bothcolleges report that measure. Where one reports and the other does not, the row shows “Not reported” and no conclusion is drawn — a data gap is not a finding.
CampusPin does not rank these colleges or declare a winner. A lower acceptance rate is not a quality score, a higher graduation rate partly reflects who a college admits, and published tuition is not what most students pay. Which college is better depends on your program, your finances, and your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Capella University or Walden University?
- Walden University has the lower published in-state tuition: $12,762 versus $14,400. After grants and scholarships, average net price is $17,956 at Capella University and $33,817 at Walden University — net price is the better basis for a cost comparison.
- Is Capella University or Walden University harder to get into?
- Both report the same acceptance rate (100%). Acceptance rate measures how many applicants are admitted, not how strong an applicant needs to be.
- Which has the better graduation rate, Capella University or Walden University?
- Graduation rates are not reported for both colleges, so they cannot be compared here.
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Data sources & methodology
Figures for Capella University and Walden University come from federal datasets and each institution's own reporting.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. Capella University vs Walden University. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/compare/capella-university-vs-walden-university