--- title: "Capella University vs Open University: Which is more popular?" description: "Is Capella University or Open University more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the University online degrees set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/capella-university-vs-open-university" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Capella University vs Open University: Which is more popular? Is Capella University or Open University more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the University online degrees set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time. ## Key facts - **Compared**: Capella University and Open University - **Competitive set**: University online degrees - **Market**: Global - **Month measured**: Oct 2026 - **Capella University Share of Search**: 6.2% - **Open University Share of Search**: 20.8% ## Is Capella University or Open University more popular in search? - In October 2026, Open University had more branded searches than Capella University among university online degrees worldwide. Open University had about 450,000 branded searches, while Capella University had 135,000. Open University made up 20.8% of all university online degree searches we track, and Capella University accounted for 6.2%. - Open University was ahead of Capella University in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026. - Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Capella University’s share of searches among university online degrees worldwide moved from 5.5% to 6.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110K to 135K. - Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Open University’s share of searches among university online degrees worldwide moved from 22.3% to 20.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 450K. ## Top university online degrees in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, neither Capella University nor Open University showed up in any of the five answers. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Western Governors University | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | University of Florida Online | 2nd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | SNHU | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Arizona State University Online | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | University of the People | 5th | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 | | University of Phoenix | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Open University | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Capella University | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Walden University | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Arden University | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Purdue Global | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Strayer University | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Coursera | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | edX | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | ## Every AI answer about university online degrees - Asked ChatGPT "Which university online degree should I join?": 1. Western Governors University, 2. Arizona State University Online, 3. SNHU - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best university online degrees?": 1. University of Florida Online, 2. Arizona State University Online, 3. Western Governors University - Asked ChatGPT "What's the best university online degree for working adults?": 1. Western Governors University, 2. SNHU, 3. University of Florida Online - Searched Google, AI Overview "accredited online degree": 1. University of Florida Online, 2. SNHU, 3. Western Governors University - Searched Google, AI Overview "online bachelor's degree": 1. University of the People, 2. Western Governors University, 3. Arizona State University Online Not named in any answer: University of Phoenix, Open University, Capella University, Walden University, Arden University, Purdue Global, Strayer University, Coursera and edX. Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in the United States on October 21, 2026. ## How did search popularity change for university online degrees worldwide in October 2026? - In October 2026, Capella University overtook Arden University and 2 others to rank 5th among university online degrees worldwide, with 6.2% of the searches. - In October 2026, Open University gained share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 20% to 20.8%. ## How has branded search for Capella University and Open University changed worldwide over the last 12 months? | Month | Capella University estimated searches | Capella University Share of Search | Capella University rank | Open University estimated searches | Open University Share of Search | Open University rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Nov 2025 | 110K | 5.5% | 8 | 450K | 22.3% | 1 | | Dec 2025 | 110K | 6% | 6 | 301K | 16.5% | 3 | | Jan 2026 | 135K | 5.5% | 6 | 450K | 18.3% | 2 | | Feb 2026 | 135K | 6.6% | 5 | 368K | 17.9% | 2 | | Mar 2026 | 135K | 6% | 7 | 368K | 16.4% | 2 | | Apr 2026 | 110K | 5.1% | 8 | 368K | 16.9% | 2 | | May 2026 | 135K | 5.9% | 7 | 368K | 16.2% | 2 | | Jun 2026 | 110K | 5.2% | 8 | 301K | 14.2% | 3 | | Jul 2026 | 110K | 4.9% | 8 | 450K | 20% | 2 | | Aug 2026 | 135K | 6.1% | 6 | 368K | 16.7% | 2 | | Sep 2026 | 110K | 4.9% | 8 | 450K | 20% | 2 | | Oct 2026 | 135K | 6.2% | 5 | 450K | 20.8% | 2 | ## How are Capella University’s and Open University’s branded searches counted? Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Capella University’s and Open University’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading. - **Capella University**: Measured on the search term “capella university”. - **Open University**: Measured on the search term “openuniversity”. - [Capella University profile](/demand/global-en/brands/capella-university) - [Open University profile](/demand/global-en/brands/open-university) - [All university online degrees worldwide](/demand/global-en/categories/university-online-degrees): The set both shares are measured inside, 14 brands. ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Capella University or Open University more popular in search? In October 2026, Open University had more branded searches than Capella University among university online degrees worldwide. Open University had about 450,000 branded searches, while Capella University had 135,000. Open University made up 20.8% of all university online degree searches we track, and Capella University accounted for 6.2%. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Capella University vs Open University: Which is more popular?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/capella-university-vs-open-university This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/capella-university-vs-open-university. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.