Capital University
Columbus, OH 43209-2394
About Capital University
Capital University is a private research university in Columbus, Ohio, enrolling about 1,585 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 70.22% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $54,143 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Capital University charges 47% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($43,234).
- Versus the Ohio median, sticker tuition is about 2.8×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 60.27%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $54,143.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Capital University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 500% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Capital University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 62 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital University | $43,234 | $22,576 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Ohio (state median) | $15,202 | $12,090 | 154 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 48% below published tuition at Capital University
Key findings
- Capital University's average net price ($22,576) is 48% below published tuition ($43,234).
- Capital University charges 47% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($43,234).
- Versus the Ohio median, sticker tuition is about 2.8×.
Capital University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $43,234
Finding Capital University charges 47% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $43,234. That is 47% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Ohio median ($15,202), sticker tuition is about 2.8×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.6×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Capital University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Capital University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Capital University is $22,576.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $22,576 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $10,486 above the Ohio median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $3,876 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Capital University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 48% lower after grants and scholarships.
Capital University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Capital University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$43,234
Avg. net price
$22,576
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $19,062 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,574 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $20,331 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,348 |
| $110,001+ | $27,299 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $172,936. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Capital University is known for
Top program completions
- Law143
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse79
- Business Administration and Management, General53
- Psychology, General45
- Music, Other32
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 13% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1068
- Midpoint ACT: 23
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Capital University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Capital University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Capital University.
Campus
Location
Columbus, OH
City / state
- ZIP
- 43209-2394
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 21% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Great Lakes
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
1,585
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,371
- Graduate
- 654
- Full-time share
- 98%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$26,889
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 33.89%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Capital University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Capital University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Capital University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $31,990 | $31,990 | $22,271 |
| 2014 | $32,190 | $32,190 | $21,585 |
| 2015 | $32,830 | $32,830 | $22,092 |
| 2016 | $33,492 | $33,492 | $20,268 |
| 2017 | $34,600 | $34,600 | $20,866 |
| 2018 | $35,466 | $35,466 | $21,973 |
| 2019 | $36,872 | $36,872 | $22,642 |
| 2020 | $38,298 | $38,298 | $20,020 |
| 2021 | $39,338 | $39,338 | $22,385 |
| 2022 | $40,350 | $40,350 | $24,223 |
| 2023 | $41,788 | $41,788 | $23,585 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1068 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 23 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Capital University reported total enrollment of about 1,585 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (65.6%), Black or African American (13.6%), and Hispanic or Latino (8.3%). About 33.89% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 27.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Capital University in 2024 is 1,585 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,371 students. Graduate enrollment is about 654 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
55.31% 100% Completion Time
60.27% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 55.31% of students graduating from Capital University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Law: 41% male / 59% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 10% male / 90% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 60% male / 40% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Capital University graduates earn a median of $54,143 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Capital University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $54,143. Median federal loan debt: $26,889. Average net price used in cost models: $22,576.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Capital University graduates report median earnings of $54,143 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Capital University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (62 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Capital University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Capital University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Capital University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$131.1M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Ohio median 5.4× the median ($24.2M)
- Great Lakes median 4.1× the median ($31.8M)
- U.S. median 5.0× the median ($26.4M)
- Ohio median 3.3× the median ($15,287)
- Great Lakes median 3.0× the median ($16,690)
- U.S. median 4.1× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 46.2%
- Ohio median 8.6 pp below median (54.9%)
- Great Lakes median 11.8 pp below median (58.1%)
- U.S. median 11.7 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $8,673
- Ohio median 1.2× the median ($7,463)
- Great Lakes median 1.1× the median ($8,046)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $13,045
- Ohio median 1.7× the median ($7,640)
- Great Lakes median 1.7× the median ($7,690)
- U.S. median 1.8× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Capital University at a glance
Capital University
Capital University is a private non-profit institution in Columbus, OH, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- LawRegistered Nursing/Registered NurseBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian65.6%Black or African American13.6%Hispanic or Latino8.3%
Schools near Capital University
Other campuses in Columbus, OH when available, plus nearby institutions in Ohio.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Ohio, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Capital University located?
Capital University is located in Columbus, OH.
What is Capital University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Capital University is 70.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 4,365 applicants and 3,194 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Capital University's tuition?
Capital University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $43,234 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $22,576 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Capital University cost?
Reported tuition is $43,234 and average net price is $22,576 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,984 annually.
Why is Capital University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Capital University, published tuition is $43,234 while average net price is $22,576—about 48% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Capital University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($22,576), completion (60.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($54,143). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Capital University?
Capital University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,371 students, White (65.6%), Black or African American (13.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Capital University?
About 27.5% of students at Capital University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Capital University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Capital University reports midpoint SAT about 1068 and midpoint ACT about 23.
What do graduates of Capital University earn?
Median earnings are $45,767 six years after entry and $54,143 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Capital University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 60.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Capital University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,889.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.