Capella University

Capella University is a private, for-profit, online university headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Established in 1993 as The Graduate School of America by Dr. Harold Abel and Stephen Shank, the institution was founded with the vision of creating a new kind of university accessible to adult learners from any location. The university received regional accreditation in 1997 and was renamed Capella University in 1999. It is owned by Strategic Education, Inc., a publicly traded company that resulted from the 2018 merger of Capella's parent company, Capella Education Company, and Strayer Education, Inc. This merger solidified its position as a significant provider of online higher education tailored for working adults.

The university's mission is to extend access to high-quality bachelor's, master's, specialist, doctoral, and certificate programs for adults aiming to maximize their personal and professional potential. This is achieved through innovative and flexible learning models responsive to the needs of its students. Capella offers two distinct learning formats: GuidedPath, which provides a structured, traditional online classroom experience, and FlexPath, a competency-based, self-paced option that allows students to leverage their existing knowledge and complete courses at their own speed. The curriculum is designed to be professionally aligned, combining rigorous academic content with practical, real-world application to ensure graduates are equipped with relevant skills. Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with numerous individual programs holding specialized accreditations from bodies such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), among others. This commitment to quality and innovation has established Capella as a key player in the online education landscape, serving thousands of students across the globe.