Carroll University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It enrolls 2,523 students (a mid-sized 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.
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.
Strong
77/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes67
Value81
Affordability49
Selectivity62
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 66.8%, Carroll University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
66.8%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1040 – 1270
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 University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
9.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Carroll University 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 $15,193 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,193
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
59%
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
$38,890
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,280
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,362
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,002
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,800
Total Cost of Attendance
$52,639
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
$15,718
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,875
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,134
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,730
Over $110,000
$14,891
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.
$4,75010%percentile
$8,75025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,50075%percentile
$34,75090%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 $22,416
↓ $4,584
No Pell $21,610
↓ $5,390
Dependent students $22,500
↓ $4,500
Independent students $18,750
↓ $8,250
Female students $21,500
↓ $5,500
Male students $23,500
↓ $3,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
63% of full-time students who enrolled at Carroll University graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
63%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
79%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Carroll University earn a median of $58,009 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,009
Earning > $25K
86%
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
$44,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$41,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,100, about 14% 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 ↑
13.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Carroll University is home to 2,523 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,523
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 69.6%1,757
Hispanic 13.8%348
Black 4.2%105
International 3.7%94
Other 3.3%82
Asian 2.5%63
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Carroll University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityWaukesha, Wisconsin
Housing
Strongly residential1,775 beds for 2,523 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 University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
51 distinct programs across
20 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 University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$233M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$76,795
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
155 instructional faculty across 3 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
24
15%
$94,043
Associate Professors
43
28%
$75,583
Assistant Professors
88
57%
$72,683
Pros & Cons of Carroll University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Carroll University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Carroll University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Carroll University.
Is Carroll University hard to get into?
Admissions at Carroll University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 66.8%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Carroll University?
Carroll University has an acceptance rate of 66.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Carroll University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Carroll University scored between 1040 and 1270 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 University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Carroll University 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 University cost?
The average net price after aid at Carroll University is $15,193 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Carroll University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,009 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,193 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Carroll University known for?
Carroll University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Kinesiology, Rehabilitation. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Carroll University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Carroll University are $58,009, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Carroll University accredited?
Yes. Carroll University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Carroll University?
Carroll University enrolls 2,523 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Carroll University?
Carroll University graduates 63% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Carroll University a public or private college?
Carroll University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Carroll University located?
Carroll University is located in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
What programs does Carroll University offer?
Carroll University offers 51 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Kinesiology, Rehabilitation.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Carroll University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carroll University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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