Carroll College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Helena, Montana. It enrolls 1,092 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes71
Value46
Affordability26
Selectivity60
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 70.9%, Carroll College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
70.9%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1050 – 1300
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
21 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Carroll College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Carroll College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,960 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,960
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
20%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
45%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$41,484
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,548
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,624
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,372
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,372
Total Cost of Attendance
$55,626
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,072
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,329
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,139
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,919
Over $110,000
$28,005
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,00025%percentile
$25,757Medianpercentile
$29,50075%percentile
$36,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $21,375
↓ $4,382
No Pell $20,000
↓ $5,757
Dependent students $21,000
↓ $4,757
Independent students $18,750
↓ $7,007
Female students $22,000
↓ $3,757
Male students $18,500
↓ $7,257
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($25,757), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
59% of full-time students who enrolled at Carroll College graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
59%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Carroll College earn a median of $61,772 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$61,772
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$43,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,600, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Carroll College is home to 1,092 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,092
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
20%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 78.7%859
Hispanic 7.2%79
Other 5.4%59
Asian 1.3%14
Black 0.9%10
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Carroll College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityHelena, Montana
Housing
Strongly residential1,050 beds for 1,092 students
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Carroll College offers
a varied set of programs:
34 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carroll College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$124M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,835
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
81 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
22
27%
$75,688
Associate Professors
38
47%
$62,944
Assistant Professors
18
22%
$54,046
Instructors
3
4%
$46,919
Pros & Cons of Carroll College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Carroll College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Carroll College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Carroll College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Carroll College.
Is Carroll College hard to get into?
Admissions at Carroll College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 70.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Carroll College?
Carroll College has an acceptance rate of 70.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Carroll College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Carroll College scored between 1050 and 1300 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Carroll College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Carroll College scored between 21 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Carroll College cost?
The average net price after aid at Carroll College is $23,960 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Carroll College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $61,772 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,960 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Carroll College known for?
Carroll College is best known for its programs in Nursing, Health Sciences, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Carroll College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Carroll College are $61,772, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Carroll College accredited?
Yes. Carroll College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Carroll College?
Carroll College enrolls 1,092 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Carroll College?
Carroll College graduates 59% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Carroll College a public or private college?
Carroll College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Carroll College located?
Carroll College is located in Helena, Montana.
What programs does Carroll College offer?
Carroll College offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Health Sciences, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Carroll College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carroll College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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