What is a tuition cap?
A tuition cap is a limit on how much tuition you’ll pay for an academic program. At Capella, our tuition cap is designed to help provide you with education costs that are transparent and affordable. Books, course materials, supplies, equipment and other fees apply, and do not count toward the tuition cap threshold. Travel expenses for residencies, practicum, etc., do not count toward the tuition cap threshold.
If you’re a new student who meets eligibility requirements and acknowledges the terms and conditions, you will not pay more than the set tuition amount for your program. Pursue your educational goals with clear tuition pricing.
Discover available tuition caps
- Bachelor’s
- Master's
- Doctoral
Available bachelor's tuition cap
$30,000 bachelor’s tuition cap
Eligible bachelor's program
- Bachelor of Social Work
Other ways to reduce tuition
You may be able to transfer your credits* from another accredited university to your Capella degree program. Capella University helps make credit transfer a straightforward process.
Complete no-cost gen ed online courses through our affiliate Sophia, and apply your courses toward your degree at Capella.*
Student/Alumni Referral Scholarship »
Capella students and alumni have the opportunity to refer eligible friends, family or colleagues to Capella to pursue a degree with a scholarship.
Military benefits may be available in select programs and learning formats for service members, veterans, their spouses and dependents.
*All transfer and credit for prior learning must be completed prior to starting any program in the FlexPath format. Any professional certification or external courses taken concurrently with FlexPath enrollment cannot be recognized in the Capella degree program.
Available master's tuition cap
$12,000 master's tuition cap
Eligible master's program
- Master of Science in Education
Other ways to reduce tuition
You may be able to transfer your credits* from another accredited university to your Capella degree program. Capella University helps make credit transfer a straightforward process.
Student/Alumni Referral Scholarship »
Capella students and alumni have the opportunity to refer eligible friends, family or colleagues to Capella to pursue a degree with a scholarship.
Military benefits may be available in select programs and learning formats for service members, veterans, their spouses and dependents.
*All transfer and credit for prior learning must be completed prior to starting any program in the FlexPath format. Any professional certification or external courses taken concurrently with FlexPath enrollment cannot be recognized in the Capella degree program.
Available doctoral tuition caps
$32,000 doctoral tuition caps
Eligible doctoral programs
- Doctor of Education
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
$45,000 doctoral tuition cap
Eligible doctoral programs
- Doctor of Business Administration
- Doctor of Information Technology
- Doctor of Social Work
$48,000 doctoral tuition cap
Eligible doctoral programs
- Doctor of Health Administration
- Doctor of Public Health
Other ways to reduce tuition
You may be able to transfer your credits* from another accredited university to your Capella degree program. Capella University helps make credit transfer a straightforward process.
Student/Alumni Referral Scholarship »
Capella students and alumni have the opportunity to refer eligible friends, family or colleagues to Capella to pursue a degree with a scholarship.
Military benefits may be available in select programs and learning formats for service members, veterans, their spouses and dependents.
*All transfer and credit for prior learning must be completed prior to starting any program in the FlexPath format. Any professional certification or external courses taken concurrently with FlexPath enrollment cannot be recognized in the Capella degree program.
Capella Tuition Cap FAQ
The Capella Tuition Cap only applies to tuition for select eligible programs in the GuidedPath or FlexPath learning format. The tuition cap will be applied to your account once you reach the threshold, but it will not cover any past-due balances. If you complete your program before reaching the threshold, you will not be eligible for any compensation for tuition paid below the threshold.
Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- The tuition cap only counts toward tuition. Books, course materials, supplies, equipment and other fees apply. Travel expenses for residencies, practicum, etc., do not count toward the tuition cap threshold.
- The tuition cap is applied to eligible programs in the GuidedPath or FlexPath learning format.
- The tuition cap takes effect once you reach the threshold, not retroactively. If you complete your program before reaching the threshold, you will not be eligible for any compensation for tuition paid below the threshold.
The Capella Tuition Cap has several benefits for eligible students, including:
- It can help to make college affordable. The tuition cap limits how much students will pay for tuition, regardless of how many credits they take or how long it takes them to complete their degrees. This can be a significant saving for students, especially those who are taking on student loans.
- It can provide peace of mind. Knowing that students have a tuition cap can help relieve some of the financial stress of going to college. Students can budget for their education knowing that the tuition costs are capped.
- It can make it easier to compare schools. When students compare different schools, the tuition cap can be a valuable factor to consider. It can help students to compare the true cost of each school, regardless of their tuition rates.
To be eligible for the Capella Tuition Cap, you must be a new or returning student or alum at Capella University, accepted into and enrolled in an eligible program in the GuidedPath or FlexPath learning format and meet eligibility requirements. Connect with us for more details.
To apply for the Capella Tuition Cap, you must:
- Apply to Capella University and be a newly admitted student or a former student who has been inactive from the university for at least four consecutive quarters.
- Be accepted into and enrolled in a tuition cap eligible program in the GuidedPath or FlexPath learning format.
- Meet all applicable Capella policies, including academic standing and financial aid satisfactory academic progress.
- Acknowledge the terms and requirements of the Capella Tuition Cap by the census date in the first course of the program.
It is important to be aware of the limitations before applying for the Capella Tuition Cap. If you are considering applying for the tuition cap, we recommend that you connect with us to discuss your specific situation so that we can find the best solution for making your degree affordable.
- If you change to a different program that doesn’t offer the Capella Tuition Cap, you will forfeit any future tuition waivers for which you would have been eligible in the prior program.
- The tuition cap does not apply to books, course materials, supplies, equipment or other fees.
- If you are eligible for other financial aid, such as federal student loans, the tuition cap may decrease the amount of aid that you receive.
- Recipients of the Capella Tuition Cap are not eligible for Capella grants, scholarships or discounts unless otherwise noted in the eligibility requirements of the additional applicable scholarship.
The Capella Tuition Cap only applies to tuition for select bachelor’s, master's and doctoral programs.
| Eligible programs | Start dates | |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Social Work | Aug. 4, Sept. 8 or Oct. 6, 2025 | |
| Master of Science in Education | Aug. 4, Sept. 8 or Oct. 6, 2025 | |
| Doctor of Business Administration (FlexPath) | Aug. 4, Sept. 8 or Oct. 6, 2025 | |
| Doctor of Business Administration (GuidedPath) | Oct. 6, 2025 | |
| Doctor of Education (FlexPath) | Aug. 4, Sept. 8 or Oct. 6, 2025 | |
| Doctor of Education (GuidedPath) | Aug. 4, Sept. 8 or Oct. 6, 2025 | |
| Doctor of Health Administration | Oct. 6, 2025 | |
| Doctor of Information Technology | Oct. 6, 2025 | |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (FlexPath) | Aug. 4, Sept. 8 or Oct. 6, 2025 | |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (GuidedPath) | Aug. 4 or Oct. 6, 2025 | |
| Doctor of Public Health | Aug. 4 or Oct. 6, 2025 | |
| Doctor of Social Work | Sept. 8 or Oct. 6, 2025 |
Not sure what start date is best for you? Talk with an enrollment counselor today.