Capella University was the inspiration of Stephen Shank, former CEO of Tonka Corporation, who felt that many adults were underserved by traditional universities. He envisioned a high-quality university that people could attend from any location.
In 1991, Shank established the corporate entity that would become Capella Education Company. In 1993, Dr. Harold Abel, an experienced leader in higher education and former president of three universities, joined Shank to found The Graduate School of America, now called Capella University. Originally, the university offered online master’s and doctoral degrees in management, education, and human services.
Today, Capella University offers more than 1050 online courses and 23 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in 114 specialized areas of study. Capella’s more than 26,800 learners include a diverse group of adults from all 50 states and 45 countries.
Milestones
1991 — The university’s parent company, now called Capella Education Company, is incorporated.
1993 — The Graduate School of America (TGSA), now called Capella University, is founded by Stephen Shank and Dr. Harold Abel, who became its first president.
1993 — Capella receives approval from the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office to grant MS and PhD degrees in organization and management, education, human services, and interdisciplinary studies.
1997 — Capella receives accreditation.*
1999 — The parent company and university are renamed Capella Education Company and Capella University.
1999 — Capella joins the U.S. Department of Education Distance Education Demonstration Program.
2000 — Capella’s School of Technology offers its first bachelor’s degree in information technology.
2000 — Capella is chosen as an original participant in the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) of The North Central Association’s Higher Learning Commission.
2001 — Capella University is named to the U.S. News & World Report list of Best Online Graduate Business Programs.
2003 — Capella Education Company is named to the Inc. 500 Hall of Fame after being named one of America’s 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies for the fifth year in a row.
2003 — Capella’s School of Human Services’ mental health counseling master’s degree specialization receives accreditation from The American Counseling Association’s Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
2003 — The North Central Association approves Capella’s plan to launch four-year undergraduate programs in business and technology.
2003 — Capella forms a collaboration with Augsburg College to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees starting in 2004.
2004 — Capella enrollment exceeds 10,000 learners.
2005 — Capella graduates its 5,000th learner.
2005 — The School of Human Services’ marital, couple and family counseling/therapy master’s degree specialization is accredited by CACREP, giving Capella University two CACREP-accredited counseling specializations.
2006 — Capella enrollment exceeds 15,000 learners.
2006 — Capella Education Company becomes a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: CPLA).
2007 — Capella’s Master of Science specialization in Reading and Literacy receives approval as a program fulfilling the requirements for licensure in Minnesota by the Minnesota Board of Teaching, one of the few online Reading and Literacy programs to be state-approved.
2007 — The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security designate Capella University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.
2007 — Capella enrollment exceeds 20,000 learners.
*Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org.
As an accredited university, Capella University takes online education to a higher level. We believe that real, life-changing learning happens in an environment of academic excellence, challenge, and personal connection.
University mission & leadership
Read the Capella University mission statement and the biographies of key administrators and board members.
Our accreditation
Capella is an accredited university. Learn more about our accreditation and our accrediting body.
Commencement ceremonies
Capella University holds commencement ceremonies twice each year: in Minneapolis each August, and in another major U.S. city each February or March. We also provide live and archived webcasts of the ceremony for graduates, family, and friends who are unable to attend in person.
News
Our news section contains information for media and those interested in learning more about Capella University. Resources include news releases, fact sheets, feature stories, and research about Capella, our learners, and online education.
Capella Education Company
Capella University is owned by Capella Education Company, a publicly traded company.
History of Capella University
The founders of Capella University envisioned a new kind of university that adult learners could attend from any location. Today, more than 26,800 adult professionals attend Capella University online.