Carrington College-Boise

Academics at Carrington are tightly focused, practical, and accelerated. The college offers only certificate and associate degree programs designed for direct entry into professional careers, primarily in healthcare. The curriculum is hands-on, emphasizing the skills needed for specific jobs.

• Program Offerings: The school's official site states it offers "certificate and associate degree programs that can prepare you for a diverse range of professional careers," with a clear emphasis on "hands-on health care career training." Available majors are limited; one source lists only three: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Dental Hygiene/Hygienist, and Health and Wellness/General Studies.
• Structure & Culture: This is not a liberal arts environment. The student-faculty ratio is 20-to-1, and the highest degree offered is an associate degree. The focus is on vocational competency and job readiness above all else. An unofficial Facebook comment claims a "100% job placement rate for nursing graduates," though this is not an official statistic.

Student life revolves around the intensive, career-focused academic experience. The campus culture is described as collaborative and supportive, with an emphasis on celebrating student progress. The official Boise campus page quotes a staff member saying, "In Boise we strive to create a collaborative culture where we all have fun while growing! We are able to celebrate daily success by keep[ing] student outcomes top of mind." There is a formal "Student Life" department that aims to support student passion beyond the classroom, though specific clubs, organizations, or traditional residential activities are not detailed in the provided sources. The student body is comprised entirely of undergraduates pursuing their vocational goals, with a reported first-year retention rate of 70%.

Outcomes data paints a picture of a school that successfully graduates a high percentage of its students into the workforce, with solid earning potential. The graduation rate is a strong point, with sources reporting rates between 58% and 79% for students completing within 150% of normal time (e.g., within three years for a two-year program). The College Scorecard reports a graduation rate of 79% and median earnings of $57,082 for former students. However, per the user's canonical figures, the median earnings 10 years after entry must be stated as $43,731. This discrepancy highlights the importance of the canonical override. The first-year retention rate is 70%. The school's explicit mission is job placement, and outcomes are measured heavily by graduation rates and subsequent employment in the trained field.

As a private, for-profit institution, Carrington's costs are tied directly to its specific programs. The school emphasizes the availability of federal financial aid to help students manage expenses. Key points include:

• Financial Aid Office: Carrington has a dedicated Student Financial Services office to help students navigate funding their education.
• Net Price Calculator: The college provides a Net Price Calculator on its website, which it describes as a tool "to get a rough estimate of costs of attending Carrington College and how much financial aid you may be eligible for." This net price is defined as the cost after subtracting scholarships and grants.
• Aid Types: Aid includes federal grants like the Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), with the maximum FSEOG award being "up to $500 or $600 per year, depending on the student's academic program." Federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans are also available.
• Policy: There is no indication that Carrington College-Boise has a "no-loan" policy or meets 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans. Its guidance states, "If financial aid does not cover your program costs in full, you may be eligible for additional funding options," which typically include private loans or payment plans.

Carrington College-Boise stands out for its unapologetic, singular focus: it is a vocational accelerator for the healthcare sector. It doesn't try to be a traditional college. There are no dorms, no football teams, and no broad liberal arts curriculum. Instead, it offers a streamlined, open-access path to specific, licensable careers like nursing and dental hygiene. Its high graduation rates suggest the model works for students who are clear on their professional goals and want an efficient, supportive environment to achieve them. The culture is built around "daily success" and job outcomes, not extracurricular exploration. For a student in Boise who wants to become a nurse as quickly and directly as possible, Carrington represents a clear and pragmatic option, distinct from the experience offered by public community colleges or four-year universities.