Capella University Review

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Capella University at a Glance

Overview

Capella University has been working in the online university space since 1993, and it was one of the first establishments to offer online learning. It has received numerous awards over the years, including the 2022 CAEL Adult Learner Impact Award. 

There are numerous degrees on offer, including bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, and various professional certifications. You can learn via a more traditional guided pathway or through a unique FlexPath format that lets you set your own deadlines and study at your own pace. 

What Is Capella University? 

Capella University is a leader in the online college space, and its course selection reflects this. It offers degrees in a range of fields, including business, counseling and therapy, education, health sciences, information technology, nursing, social work and human services, and psychology. 

Prospective students can apply online, and the establishment is fully accredited by various industry and professional bodies. The flexible study options make it a great choice for people who want to study at their own pace, and various financial aid options are available. 

What’s more, Capella University boasts a strong online student community. There are various support services, including career counseling and specialized IT support. The application process is fast and easy, and assistance is available every step of the way. 

Is Capella University Safe and Reliable? 

Capella University has been a long-time player in the online college space, and offers reliable courses in a range of fields. It uses industry-standard security practices to protect student data and other personal information. 

What’s more, Capella University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an international agency recognized in the US. It also has various professional accreditations, including from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 

Another strong point of Capella University is its A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating. It does have a low customer review rating on the BBB website, but complaints mainly focus on unexpected costs. The college is very transparent about its pricing, so you shouldn’t have any issues if you do your due diligence in advance. 

Some people also make comments about the quality of teaching. But in most cases, it seemed the poor rating was due to the reviewer being unsuited to the online teaching style rather than poor course delivery.

How Capella University Works

Capella University is a fully online college that provides flexible study options to students across the US. You won’t have to attend physical classes, but some courses and study formats do require you to participate in regular group tutorials and other online activities. 

Students can choose to follow either the GuidedPath or the FlexPath learning format. The GuidedPath is much more structured and includes weekly discussions, regular deadlines, and more interactions with other students while you complete your course. 

On the other hand, following the FlexPath format enables you to set your own deadlines and learn at your own pace. There are much fewer interactions with other students, and you won’t have to attend weekly discussion sessions. However, there are still some deadline requirements, and each unit has to be completed within 12 weeks. 

How to get started with Capella University

I found Capella University’s online application portal very easy to use, and it shouldn’t take you more than half an hour to fill out your application. 

You start by hitting the Apply Now button on the college website and entering your name, email address, and password to create an account. You can use this to save your application and return to it at any time. 

Next up, you’ll need to fill out an admission application. I worked through a sample application and was pleasantly surprised by how smooth the process was. 

To begin, add your personal information and academic goals. You’ll also be asked about your education history and employment. Where applicable, academic transcripts and additional documentation may need to be submitted. 

A $50 application fee must be paid before you can submit your application. You should receive an admission decision within two weeks of submission, and the Capella University team will reach out to you with your next steps.

Terms and fees

Capella University clearly outlines its terms and fees on its website. Most undergraduate courses are 180 credits or almost four years of full-time study. Each credit costs between $350 and $415, but there’s a $2,500 cap per quarter. The FlexPath option is a little more pricey, ranging from $2,500 to $3,295 per 12-week billing cycle. 

Doctoral degrees, master’s degrees, and professional certifications require you to complete varying numbers of course credits, but they don’t usually exceed 100 credits. Most of these courses can be completed within one to two years with a full-time study load. You can find the prices for these outlined on the Capella University website. 

You will also have to pay a small resource fee, which ranges from $50 to $175 per quarter or billing session, depending on your course. The fees for transferring credits for prior learning range from $50 to $125 per credit, which is quite expensive. For undergraduate courses, you can transfer a maximum of 135 credits out of the 180 required to complete a degree. 

Capella University Student Resources

Current and prospective students can reach out to the Capella University team via phone or email. The service team is active during business hours, but there’s little to no after-hours service. I called the university to ask some questions just before 7pm (ET) and was greeted by an autoresponder. 

On the downside, there’s no live chat or other fast way to speak with a team member. This means that you will either have to get on the phone or wait for an email reply if you have any questions. 

Once you begin your application, you’ll be connected with a dedicated enrollment counselor. You can call or email them directly for personalized application support. 

Current students can access a range of resources, and support is available at every step of the journey. For example, you’ll have access to academic advisors, career counselors, and writing support. Extra academic support is available through Capella’s team of graduate assistants, and there’s a large online library containing numerous journal articles and digital textbooks. 

You can also engage with the student community while you’re studying at Capella. There are various Facebook groups, student groups, and local meet-up groups that present excellent opportunities to help you socialize with your fellow students. 

Post-graduation, Capella University offers career development opportunities including resume writing support and interview tips. This is available to all alumni at any time.   

Capella University Alternatives

How Capella University compares with other online universities

Capella University Visit Site

Capella University vs Liberty University

Liberty University is a Christian university which teaches with a Biblical worldview, which means that it’s not suited to everyone. Like Capella University, Liberty University offers a streamlined online study experience and flexible course options. It also has a much larger selection of degrees. While Capella University would remain my choice for the average US student, Liberty University could be a decent option for those with Christian values. 

Capella University vs Purdue Global University

Purdue Global University has been in operation for just five years, much less than Capella University’s 30 years of experience. Both are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and they offer a similar number of courses. Purdue Global does have slightly more specialized options, including legal, aviation, and criminal justice courses. I’d suggest looking into it if one of these is what you’re looking for, but I’d go for Capella University’s experience and flexible learning in most other cases.  

Capella University vs American Public University

American Public University is a for-profit institution that matches Capella University in size and popularity. They offer similar courses and a similar variety of degrees, although Capella University’s flexible study options aren’t available with American Public University. Because of this, I’d recommend Capella University if you’re looking for a self-paced online study option with near-unmatched flexibility. 

Bottom Line

Capella University has been working in the online learning space for 30 years, and it maintains a strong presence to this day. It offers a selection of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, alongside professional certifications, and its tuition fees are clear from the start. 

What’s more, it’s super easy to apply online, and you can study at your own pace through the FlexPath program. All things considered, I’d recommend taking Capella University into consideration if you’re looking for a solid option with a large student base and decent support services.