Carroll College
#1 Best Colleges in Montana- Graduation Rate
- 68% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $61,772 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $23,960 D
- 40% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 71% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.2 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges in Montana.
Every $1 spent returns $21.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,939,881.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 51% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Carroll College Matters
Carroll College is a private college in Helena, MT and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,092
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing, Education
Why students choose Carroll College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 71% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1050–1300. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $23,960 a year after grants and scholarships — 40% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $61,772 ten years after enrolling — 51% above the typical college, against $25,757 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 34% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.54 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 1,100 students, Carroll College in Helena, Montana, is an inviting option for those seeking a tight-knit community. The college is particularly appealing for students interested in fields like Health Professions, Biology and Biomedical sciences, Business and Marketing, Education, and Social Sciences. It has a 71% acceptance rate, making it accessible for many students who want a quality education in a supportive environment.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $61,772 within ten years. This figure highlights a strong return on investment, especially considering that many graduates find their footing in meaningful careers. While 20% of students receive Pell Grants, which suggests a commitment to supporting lower-income students, the college's affordability and the potential for upward mobility are noteworthy factors for prospective students weighing their options.
On the financial side, the net price after aid is approximately $23,960, which is manageable for many families. The median debt for graduates stands at $25,757, a figure that many find reasonable given the potential earnings. Students who thrive here often appreciate a close-knit community and a focus on practical education that leads to solid career outcomes. If you're looking for a supportive college experience that prepares you for the workforce, Carroll College might be a good fit.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Carroll College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Carroll College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Helena, Montana, Carroll College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 71%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,200. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- SAT Average
- 1200
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 1050–1300
- ACT Range
- 21–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 67%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,620
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.37
- First-Gen Students
- 20%
- Applicants
- 1,519
- Admitted
- 1,186
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Carroll College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Carroll College is $41,484, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,960. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,072 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,757 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $41,484
- Out-of-State
- $41,484
- Avg Net Price
- $23,960
- Median Debt
- $25,757
- Pell Grant Rate
- 20%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 45%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,072
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,329
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,139
- Family Income $110K+
- $28,005
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Carroll College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Carroll College earn a median of $61,772, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,507
- 8 Years
- $56,040
- 10 Years
- $61,772
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.42x
- Earning > $25K
- 73%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (172)
- 49%
- 100% (172)
- 49%
- 100% (172)
- 49%
- 100% (172)
- 49%
How Carroll Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Carroll College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Carroll College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,960/year ($95,840 total). Graduates earn $61,772 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,035,721 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,939,881 (21.2× your investment). The median debt is $25,757, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $95,840
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,035,721
- Net Return
- $1,939,881
- ROI Multiple
- 21.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $23,960
- Median Debt
- $25,757
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Carroll College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Carroll College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.82%, well above the typical college. About 5.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $89,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.82%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 35.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $89,700
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,413,227
- Investment Income
- $-6,329,584
Top Programs
The fields Carroll College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Health Professions 37%
- Biology & Biomedical 15%
- Business & Marketing 12%
- Education 7%
- Social Sciences 5%
- Psychology 3%
- Engineering 3%
- Mathematics & Statistics 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Carroll College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Carroll College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Helena, Montana, Carroll College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 71%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,200. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Carroll College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Carroll College is $41,484, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,960. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,072 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,757 in federal student loans.
Is Carroll College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Carroll College earn a median of $61,772, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Carroll College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Carroll College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.82%, well above the typical college. About 5.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $89,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Carroll College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Carroll College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.54, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Carroll College.
- Saint Vincent CollegeLatrobe, PA · Close peer70% grad $59,982 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Edgewood CollegeMadison, WI · Close peer64% grad $59,728 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Knox CollegeGalesburg, IL · Close peer68% grad $54,820 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Hartwick CollegeOneonta, NY · Close peer50% grad $61,107 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Allegheny CollegeMeadville, PA · Close peer70% grad $62,069 earn 55% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Juniata CollegeHuntingdon, PA · Close peer71% grad $56,918 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Carroll College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Carroll College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.54, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note