The for-profit online university Capella was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the school focuses on growing enrollment, but neglects current students.
Two former Capella University students allege in their class action lawsuit that Capella falsely advertises the time and money it takes for students to get their degrees.
The plaintiffs say that the for-profit university pours resources into recruiting new students at the expense of current students, leading to decreased resources, high instructor turnover, and delays.
“Capella essentially operated a ‘bait and switch’ program,” alleges the Capella University class action lawsuit. “The bait was displayed when Capella’s marketing materials and recruiters misled prospective and current students making misleading statements about the time to completion and cost of their mostly student-loan financed doctoral degrees.”
One of the plaintiffs alleges that she spent more than $50,000 trying to get a doctor of nursing practice degree. She says Capella advertises the degree as taking 30 months and costing $35,000 in tuition, but despite earning high grades, the plaintiff says that delays and instructor turnover led her to quit and pursue her degree elsewhere.
The other plaintiff says she spent more than $100,000 in tuition at Capella pursuing a doctor of education degree based on false promises that the degree would take three years. The plaintiff also alleges she earned top grades, but when it came to making progress to finishing her degree, Capella only presented barriers and hurdles.
“Instead of completing the promised doctoral degree program requirements and being awarded a doctoral degree in the advertised time, Capella employed the ‘switch,’” says the Capella University class action lawsuit. “Capella created an endless routine of hurdles and benefitted from additional tuition payments. Students who believed they were getting ever closer to obtaining their doctoral degree were in fact stuck with decreasing resources, faculty turnover, disorganization and a lack of oversight, all of which increased the length of the doctoral students’ enrollments at Capella.”
According to the Capella class action lawsuit, the online nature of the programs offered by Capella makes it difficult for students to realize that their peers are facing the same obstacles as they are in finishing their degree.
The plaintiffs say that they and thousands of other frustrated students are at the mercy of Capella advisors “who can and did ensure that doctoral students would be misled, confused, and ultimately cheated out of their money to the benefit of Capella.”
The Capella University class action alleges that Capella banks on the “crushing student debt” created by the delays and hurdles it creates to force students to un-enroll before finishing their degree so they can work to pay back that debt. Further, alleges the Capella class action lawsuit, the credits awarded by Capella are useless because other institutions will not accept them.
The plaintiffs seek to represent other Capella students nationwide who enrolled and paid tuition starting in 2006, along with Kansas and Tennessee subclasses.
The Capella class action lawsuit seeks damages as well as a court order stopping Capella from its alleged bait and switch and false marketing. The plaintiffs also want Capella to disgorge all profits from “excessive doctoral program coursework.”
The former Capella University students are represented by Garrett D. Blanchfield, and Roberta A. Yard of Reinhardt Wendorf & Blanchfield and Paul Lesko of Peiffer Tosca Wolf Abdullah Carr & Kane.
The Capella University Class Action is Wright, et al. v. Capella Education Company, et al., Case No. 0:18-cv-01062-WMW-SER, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
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134 thoughts onCapella University Class Action Says Degree Process is ‘Bait and Switch’
I was a student at Capella University 2021 to 2023. They lead me to believe that enrollment would be cheaper than the school I was currently attending. I would finish sooner. My classes were 1250 per class. I had to stop going after they ran my loans out. I was getting a bachelor’s degree in psychology and said only a few of my credits transferred so I had to retake classes. I found out after I was no longer going Capella University was reenrolling me for 2 years for the same class to keep me as a student on thier records. I found out from my loan provider not the school. I had to withdraw again even though I had already told them I could no longer attend two years ago to get any forbearance. .
Each month, when I make my student loan payment, I reflect on how I paid twice as much as I thought I would for my degree. I also experienced many of the tactics that others have mentioned, including a change in advisors with no prior communication.
Capella University has engaged in multiple unethical and potentially unlawful actions, including registering me for a course without my knowledge or consent, misrepresenting that I would receive a refund—only to later withhold it—and failing to uphold their own stated grievance and remediation procedures. Despite my repeated efforts to communicate and resolve these issues internally, I was met with delays, dismissiveness, and contradictory responses from university staff. These actions have not only caused financial harm but also severely disrupted my education and mental well-being. The university’s handling of my case reflects a broader pattern of administrative negligence, policy violations, and disregard for student rights.
Yes, I want to file a complaint because Capella did a switch and bait with my mentors. I had 4 over the course of 5 years and each had me to start over because they did not like what the previous mentor had approved. I had 4 units left and requested a short extension. I was asked to prepare a plan which I did with the coach. It was denied in less than a day. The extension was for 4 mos. So they removed me from the school system after 5 1/2 years. I went to the Naval War College so I wrote why I could not attend. They did grant it because it was for the federal government.
Are there any class action suits against Capella university for delaying time frames so you can not get doctorate?
Capella Doc Student lead along after they said I should withdraw but that I could appeal. Still no answer 4 months later.
Capella University try get me to take 80,000 student loan.They automatically signup me for classes without having transcripts. The classes cost 1600.00. When I refuse to pay they hassle by phone and emails. And put on my credit report.
Capella University fraudulently accused me of sexism and blocked me from registering for classes because I complained about being discriminated against. Academic advisors gave me false information and created a panel against me for complaining. The school has not provided me with any dates or times to defend myself or join the panel. I also hope that I can join a class action lawsuit against this fraudulent University. Please reach out to me if there is any way you can help.
Yes I would also want to join a class action lawsuit. I know they take a long time, but it would be worth it in the end. I was told to withdraw from my class and that I could make an appeal and now they’re not accepting my appeal. My time for graduation is running out.