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+--- Thread: Capella vs Walden for CBE Masters (/Thread-Capella-vs-Walden-for-CBE-Masters)
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Capella vs Walden for CBE Masters - wow - 12-25-2025
Let's say you had some money to spend on a CBE degree in a subject that interested you for a check-the-box or just-for-fun masters. Assuming all other things are equal EXCEPT REPUTATION, such as costs and curriculum (I know they are a little different, but play along with me), would you choose Capella or Walden based on your level of pride/embarrassment at saying, "My master's in ____ is from ____"?
This is not a test, and you don't have to justify your answer. I'm genuinely curious if/how these two are perceived differently.
(I am NOT asking about doctorates.)
RE: Capella vs Walden for CBE Masters - sanantone - 12-25-2025
Ew! I hate both of those schools. LOL. I would choose Capella because they've earned APA accreditation for their master's in psychology. For anyone who is curious, APA recently started accrediting master's programs. While this post is about master's programs, how these schools operate at the doctoral level affects the overall reputation of the schools. Walden has awarded more doctoral degrees to Black people than any other school due to its aggressive marketing. I see their ads all the time on social media, but I rarely see Capella ads. I also haven't had good experiences with nurse practitioners who've earned their MSNs at Walden.
RE: Capella vs Walden for CBE Masters - bjcheung77 - 12-25-2025
They're both neck and neck, depending on what program you're looking at and if the program is offered, I would only go for them if they have a program that is not cheaply available elsewhere. You should really look for alternatives first before settling on either of them. If I was deciding, I would research a bit more and then if needed, flip a coin. Here are a couple of sites that compare the two and a previous thread:
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Capella-FlexPath-or-Walden-Tempo
https://www.univstats.com/comparison/capella-university-vs-walden-university/
https://www.reddit.com/r/psychologystudents/comments/1bq0mqz/capella_or_walden/
RE: Capella vs Walden for CBE Masters - Duneranger - 12-25-2025
Both have terrible reps in the medical world, their names alone get your resume thrown in the trash.
RE: Capella vs Walden for CBE Masters - PauFraTat - 12-25-2025
Playing by the rules here... If the box that needed to be checked was something technical, and since I'm a tech guy, I would go with Capella, since they are known in the industry, whereas Walden is not. If it were non-technical and more aligned with "just-for-fun" or something, I suppose, since I tried Capella a while ago and didn't stick around after one term, I'd go with Walden, hoping for a better experience.
RE: Capella vs Walden for CBE Masters - wow - 12-25-2025
(12-25-2025, 01:51 PM)PauFraTat Wrote: Playing by the rules here... If the box that needed to be checked was something technical, and since I'm a tech guy, I would go with Capella, since they are known in the industry, whereas Walden is not. If it were non-technical and more aligned with "just-for-fun" or something, I suppose, since I tried Capella a while ago and didn't stick around after one term, I'd go with Walden, hoping for a better experience.
Was there any particular issue with Capella? Were you in course-based or FlexPath?
(12-25-2025, 12:23 PM)sanantone Wrote: Ew! I hate both of those schools. LOL. I would choose Capella because they've earned APA accreditation for their master's in psychology. For anyone who is curious, APA recently started accrediting master's programs. ...
I didn't know that about APA accreditation. Interesting!Edit: I looked it up and, for anyone who is interested, it seems the APA accreditation is for the MS CPCC (clinical psychology), not any of the other psych master's. So not available in FlexPath, although IDK if you can do some credits in FlexPath and then transfer to course-based: https://apps.apa.org/accredsearch/
https://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/newsletter/2024/09/masters-accreditation
(12-25-2025, 12:31 PM)bjcheung77 Wrote: Here are a couple of sites that compare the two and a previous thread:
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Capella-FlexPath-or-Walden-Tempo
https://www.univstats.com/comparison/capella-university-vs-walden-university/
https://www.reddit.com/r/psychologystudents/comments/1bq0mqz/capella_or_walden/
Thanks!
RE: Capella vs Walden for CBE Masters - PauFraTat - 12-25-2025
(12-25-2025, 02:41 PM)wow Wrote:(12-25-2025, 01:51 PM)PauFraTat Wrote: Playing by the rules here... If the box that needed to be checked was something technical, and since I'm a tech guy, I would go with Capella, since they are known in the industry, whereas Walden is not. If it were non-technical and more aligned with "just-for-fun" or something, I suppose, since I tried Capella a while ago and didn't stick around after one term, I'd go with Walden, hoping for a better experience.
Was there any particular issue with Capella? Were you in course-based or FlexPath?
I have an interesting history with Capella that started back in 2008 (I won't bore with details). But it wasn't until 2021 that I actually took courses (Ph.D. in IT, not flex-path). To be fully transparent, there wasn't anything terrible about them, but I wasn't impressed with the course structure, the lack of instruction (nearly total lack), and the importance placed on discussion posts. So I completed the courses I didn't continue. Not long after, I learned about this site and decided to try the CBE approach at WGU.
I'm not knocking Capella here, but it just wasn't for me. I know a few individuals who attended Capella and have great feedback. A former commander of mine from the Air Force completed his Doctor of IT at Capella and provided me with great advice and a recommendation for my application to the D.Sc. in IT program at Middle Georgia State University.
RE: Capella vs Walden for CBE Masters - TINASAM - 12-26-2025
My Psych master is from Walden. I went because I just needed the degree for adding an additional element to my social science master. It was not for any type of healthcare.
I went because the 3k term was all I needed. Finished in 2 months, got a 1 month refund prorated since I didn't take all 3 months to finish the degree.
I'd absolutely do it again and eyeing another tempo degree, especially if they continue to refund the difference if you finish before the term is up.
RE: Capella vs Walden for CBE Masters - wow - 12-26-2025
(12-26-2025, 08:45 AM)TINASAM Wrote: My Psych master is from Walden. I went because I just needed the degree for adding an additional element to my social science master. It was not for any type of healthcare.
I went because the 3k term was all I needed. Finished in 2 months, got a 1 month refund prorated since I didn't take all 3 months to finish the degree.
I'd absolutely do it again and eyeing another tempo degree, especially if they continue to refund the difference if you finish before the term is up.
A refund? Now that's customer service!
I wonder if Capella does that. It could be a thing to consider for people comparing the two.
Can I private message you for a "friend" referral in case I decide on Walden? There is a 15% referral discount for "friends" and 25% for family members: https://www.waldenu.edu/refer
FWIW for anyone looking at this thread, Capella does a 20% referral discount.
(Aside: I am not talking about healthcare either. I'm not a nurse. Or a medical professional. Nor do I want to be. I'm not sure how the medical field came up earlier. I know Walden offers some CBE masters that only nurses are eligible for, but the masters are not in clinical topics, so *shrugs*, and they aren't offered at Capella, so a person considering a CBE nursing masters at Walden wouldn't be considering Capella at all.)
(12-25-2025, 03:26 PM)PauFraTat Wrote:Thanks for the clarification! This is useful information.(12-25-2025, 02:41 PM)wow Wrote:(12-25-2025, 01:51 PM)PauFraTat Wrote: Playing by the rules here... If the box that needed to be checked was something technical, and since I'm a tech guy, I would go with Capella, since they are known in the industry, whereas Walden is not. If it were non-technical and more aligned with "just-for-fun" or something, I suppose, since I tried Capella a while ago and didn't stick around after one term, I'd go with Walden, hoping for a better experience.
Was there any particular issue with Capella? Were you in course-based or FlexPath?
I have an interesting history with Capella that started back in 2008 (I won't bore with details). But it wasn't until 2021 that I actually took courses (Ph.D. in IT, not flex-path). To be fully transparent, there wasn't anything terrible about them, but I wasn't impressed with the course structure, the lack of instruction (nearly total lack), and the importance placed on discussion posts. So I completed the courses I didn't continue. Not long after, I learned about this site and decided to try the CBE approach at WGU.
I'm not knocking Capella here, but it just wasn't for me. I know a few individuals who attended Capella and have great feedback. A former commander of mine from the Air Force completed his Doctor of IT at Capella and provided me with great advice and a recommendation for my application to the D.Sc. in IT program at Middle Georgia State University.
RE: Capella vs Walden for CBE Masters - newdegree - 12-26-2025
I applied to the FlexPath program for Capella University's master's in Human Resource Management. I am going to attempt to speedrun the degree in one term. I wouldn't be able to say much about Capella or Walden besides the fact that they are both private, for-profit schools. Neither of them has the best reputation, but they are both regionally accredited. If the degree can help you get a raise, promotion, or check a box, it does its job, but it will not impress or wow new employers like a degree from an Ivy League or top school would. Many people who earn doctoral degrees from these two schools sometimes have difficulty finding employment at universities and often resort to adjunct positions. Still, you can go through the directory of faculty members at different universities, and you would be surprised to find that at least one or more have a degree from Capella or Walden. I guess what I am trying to say is the degree is what you make out of it. For me, it looks like a fun opportunity to try competency-based education, and for a low price of about $2,850, I can't go wrong with adding an additional master's degree under my belt.