On-line learners may have different needs, expectations, and
priorities than more traditional students. At Capella, we strive to
understand and meet those needs, priorities and expectations. One way
we do that is to measure learner satisfaction using standardized
surveys. These surveys allow us to evaluate Capella's performance and
to compare it to other similar institutions.
Priorities Survey For Online Learners
The Noel-Levitz Priorities Survey for Online Learners (PSOL) is designed specifically for online learners. It asks learners to rate their satisfaction with several aspects of their experiences in online learning. Capella asks a sample of bachelors, masters, and doctoral learners to complete PSOL every quarter.
On the PSOL, students respond to "expectation statements" (e.g., "online course registration is convenient") to rate how important each expectation is to them and how satisfied they are that Capella meets each expectation. Two of the graphs below show how Capella compares to the PSOL national benchmark which represents approximately 120 different institutions. In each you can see the average ratings for:
- All Capella respondents
- Capella respondents at each degree level
- Other PSOL respondents
The top graph compares responses on scales that reflect how an institution is perceived and how the institution performs on 4 categories of service. The second graph compares ratings on 3 individual satisfaction questions. The third graph shows responses to three questions specific to Capella, so no comparison information is available. All the data were gathered between Q3 2017 and Q1 2018.
Perceptions & Services
PSOL 2017-2018
Ratings are on a 7-point scale, with 7 being the highest.
Perceptions and Services
Institutional Perceptions
Capella Overall: 5.88
- Bachelor's: 6.00
- Master's: 6.03
- Doctoral: 5.59
PSOL National Benchmark: 5.94
Academic Services
Capella Overall: 6.05
- Bachelor's: 6.08
- Master's: 6.13
- Doctoral: 5.91
PSOL National Benchmark: 5.96
Enrollment Services
Capella Overall: 6.25
- Bachelor's: 6.14
- Master's: 6.35
- Doctoral: 6.18
PSOL National Benchmark: 6.06
Instructional Services
Capella Overall: 5.97
- Bachelor's: 6.00
- Master's: 6.04
- Doctoral: 5.84
PSOL National Benchmark: 5.89
Student Services
Capella Overall: 6.00
- Bachelor's: 6.06
- Master's: 6.12
- Doctoral: 5.80
PSOL National Benchmark: 5.90
Satisfaction
Priorities Survey for
Online Learners 2017 - 2018
1-Not Satisfied at all 7-Very Satisfied
Satisfaction
PSOL 2017-2018
Ratings are on a 7-point scale, with 7 being the highest.
Would you enroll here again?
Capella Overall: 5.82
- Bachelor's: 5.97
- Master's: 6.02
- Doctoral: 5.45
PSOL National Benchmark: 5.90
Rate your overall satisfaction with your experience thus far.
Capella Overall: 5.89
- Bachelor's: 5.91
- Master's: 6.03
- Doctoral: 5.69
PSOL National Benchmark: 5.84
Where your expectations met?
Capella Overall: 5.25
- Bachelor's: 5.32
- Master's: 5.36
- Doctoral: 5.02
PSOL National Benchmark: 5.19
Capella Degree
Priorities Survey for
Online Learners 2017 - 2018
1-Not Satisfied at all 7-Very Satisfied
Capella Degree
PSOL 2017-2018
Ratings are on a 7-point scale, with 7 being the highest.
Capella gives the most efficient, direct path to completing my degree.
Capella Overall: 6.04
Capella degrees are recognized, respected in my profession and by employers.
Capella Overall: 5.86
Skills and knowledge obtained at Capella are immediately applicable to my career.
Capella Overall: 6.16
National Survey of Student Engagement
Each year Capella participates in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). In 2017, all Capella undergraduate students that were the equivalent of first-year or senior level students were invited to participate.
Results reported here are from students at the senior-year level. Capella's results are compared to the survey's the national sample results, which represent over 300,000 senior learners from several hundred institutions.
NSSE focuses on student participation in programs and activities and their interactions with faculty and other students. The results provide a picture of how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college The graphs below represent several aspects of that picture.
- The first graph shows 7 engagement indicators or benchmarks. Each indicator comprises several items, and NSSE calculates the score based on a 60-point scale.
- Below that is the Quality of Interactions graph which shows what students thought about their interactions with 5 different groups.
- The next graph shows how much experience at the institution has contributed to the development of 10 general skills and abilities.
- The bottom graph shows what students thought was emphasized in the coursework.
NSSE Benchmark Comparisons
National Survey for Student Engagement
Weighted average on a 60-point scale
Benchmark Comparisons
National Survey of Student Engagement
Higher-Order Learning
Capella: 46.3
NSSE Benchmark: 40.0
Reflective & Integrative Learning
Capella: 40.3
NSSE Benchmark: 38.0
Learning Strategies
Capella: 43.2
NSSE Benchmark: 38.7
Quantitative Reasoning
Capella: 29.7
NSSE Benchmark: 29.9
Discussions with Diverse Others
Capella: 39.9
NSSE Benchmark: 40.5
Effective Teaching Practices
Capella: 41.5
NSSE Benchmark: 39.6
Quality of Interactions
Capella: 47.9
NSSE Benchmark: 42.2
Quality of Interactions
National
Survey for Student Engagement
Percentage rating their interactions a 6 or 7 (on a scale from
1="Poor" to 7="Excellent")
Quality of Interactions
National
Survey of Student Engagement
Students
Capella: 68
National Benchmark: 58
Academic Advisors
Capella: 66
National Benchmark: 51
Faculty
Capella: 69
National Benchmark: 57
Student services staff (career services, student activities, housing, etc.)
Capella: 57
National Benchmark: 41
Administrative staff and offices (registrar, financial aid, etc.)
Capella: 64
National Benchmark: 31
Skills and Abilities
National
Survey for Student Engagement
1-Very Little 4-Very Much
Skills and Abilities
National
Survey of Student Engagement
Writing clearly and effectively
Capella: 3.40
National Benchmark: 3.00
Speaking clearly and effectively
Capella: 2.94
National Benchmark: 2.91
Thinking critically and analytically
Capella: 3.44
National Benchmark: 3.29
Analyzing numerical and statistical information
Capella: 2.93
National Benchmark: 2.85
Acquiring job- or work-related knowledge and skills
Capella: 3.15
National Benchmark: 2.92
Working effectively with others
Capella: 3.00
National Benchmark: 3.03
Developing a personal code of values and ethics
Capella: 2.97
National Benchmark: 2.83
Understanding people of other backgrounds
Capella: 2.97
National Benchmark: 2.83
Solving complex real-world problems
Capella: 3.01
National Benchmark: 2.82
Being an informed and active citizen
Capella: 2.81
National Benchmark: 2.70
Coursework Emphasis
National
Survey of Student Engagement
1-Very Little 4-Very Much
Coursework Emphasis
National
Survey of Student Engagement
Memorizing course material
Capella: 2.13
National Benchmark: 2.72
Applying facts, theories, or methods to practical problems or new situations
Capella: 3.37
National Benchmark: 3.09
Analyzing an idea, experience, or line of reasoning in depth by examining its parts
Capella: 3.31
National Benchmark: 3.04
Evaluating a point of view, decision, or information source
Capella: 3.31
National Benchmark: 2.92
Forming a new idea or understanding from various pieces of information
Capella: 3.26
National Benchmark: 2.95
"Capella has taught me how to use my analytical abilities and actually search for my own voice, to gather data or information from various sources and then come up with my own best conclusions."
Bonnie Jones, PhD
2010 Graduate
School of Business and Technology
Specialization in Organization/Management