Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degree) at Capella University

Est. Earnings (1yr)Estimated

$52,188

Est. from MN median (15 programs)

Est. Median DebtEstimated

$31,000

Est. from national median (13 programs)

Based on U.S. Department of Education data (October 2025 release). Some figures are estimates based on similar programs — see details below.

Analysis

A debt load around $31,000—estimated from comparable online private universities—paired with first-year earnings in the low-$50,000s puts this online finance bachelor's at a manageable but underwhelming debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. That's not alarming territory, but it's worth noting that similar finance programs in Minnesota typically carry debt closer to $24,000, meaning you might be paying a premium for the online format without a clear earnings advantage to show for it.

The four-year earnings jump to $63,000 suggests decent income growth, though peer programs at Minnesota's brick-and-mortar schools are producing notably stronger outcomes—graduates from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and University of St Thomas are earning $65,000-$69,000 right out of the gate. Based on what similar programs show, Capella appears positioned in the middle of the pack for earnings while potentially asking students to shoulder above-average debt for the state.

For a working adult who needs the flexibility of online study, these numbers could work—you're likely to out-earn the debt within a couple of years. But if your child is choosing between this and traditional Minnesota finance programs, the in-state options are showing stronger outcomes with lower typical debt burdens. The 37% Pell enrollment suggests Capella serves students with genuine financial constraints, but make sure the convenience premium is worth roughly $7,000 more in estimated debt than the state norm.

Where Capella University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all finance and financial management services bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Capella University	—	$63,279	—
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	$69,094	$87,799	+27%
University of St Thomas	$66,006	$81,390	+23%
University of Minnesota-Duluth	$51,953	$71,475	+38%
Winona State University	$52,188	$70,992	+36%

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (21 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Capella UniversityMinneapolis	$14,436	$52,188*	$63,279	$31,000*	—
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis	$16,488	$69,094*	$87,799	$21,500*	0.31
University of St ThomasSaint Paul	$52,284	$66,006*	$81,390	$26,250*	0.40
Augsburg UniversityMinneapolis	$43,942	$63,598*	$64,401	$27,000*	0.42
Concordia College at MoorheadMoorhead	$30,020	$59,104*	—	—*	—
Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaWinona	$43,160	$58,451*	—	$27,000*	0.46
National Median	—	$53,590*	—	$23,332*	0.44

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with finance and financial management services graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

$102,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Insurance Underwriters

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

$79,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Capella University, approximately 37% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 15 similar programs in MN. Actual outcomes may vary.