Admit rate has ranged 69%–84% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Carroll College, a Catholic liberal arts college nestled in the Rockies of Helena, Montana, blends rigorous academics with a tight-knit community and outdoor adventure. Known for its strong health sciences programs and Montana's highest graduate earnings, Carroll offers a distinctly personal education where 72% of applicants get in—but those who stay graduate at rates far above state averages.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,092
In-state tuition
$41,484
Out-of-state tuition
$41,484
Athletes
25% of students
Location
Helena, MT
Top Majors
Nursing, Biology, Psychology
Avg Class Size
16
Acceptance Rate
72.6%
6-Year Grad Rate
66%
Student-Faculty Ratio
11:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$61,772
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.6×
Median debt at graduation
$25,757
Graduation rate
69%
First-year retention
82%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
79%
Pell (lower-income) share
41%
First-generation share
20%
Endowment / student
$74,178
Financial health
2.7 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$60,325
Civil Engineering$50,856
Business Administration, Management and Operations$34,526
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$33,993
Sociology$33,281
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
78
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
16°F
Annual rain
14"
Annual snow
36"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
45
Scholarly works
407
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.8%
Bottom → top quintile
35%
From bottom quintile
5%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Carroll College?
Carroll College's acceptance rate is approximately 71% (Helena, MT), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Carroll College?
Admitted students at Carroll College typically score 1050–1300 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Carroll College cost?
At Carroll College, the average net price (after aid) is about $23,960 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Carroll College?
Carroll College enrolls approximately 1,092 undergraduate students.
Where is Carroll College located?
Carroll College is located in Helena, MT.
Admissions
Carroll College is moderately selective, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering around 72.6%—though recent data shows slight tightening to 66.8%. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 21-29 on the ACT (submitted by 41% of applicants) or 1090-1260 on the SAT. Unlike cutthroat liberal arts colleges, Carroll evaluates holistically: no single academic factor dominates decisions, though rigor of high school coursework matters most. About 60% of freshmen rank in the top half of their high school class. The college has rolling admissions but prioritizes applications submitted by February 1 for scholarship consideration.
Carroll’s Catholic liberal arts core—requiring theology, philosophy, and ethics courses—grounds even its career-focused programs. Health sciences dominate: nursing, pre-med, and public health draw nearly a third of students, supported by a 100% medical school for qualified applicants. The college also offers unusual undergraduate niches like radiologic technology and a 3+2 engineering dual-degree with Montana State. Small classes (average size: 16) enable close faculty mentorship, particularly in demanding programs where athletes—25% of the student body—maintain academic eligibility while tackling pre-professional tracks. The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning, with 85% of students completing internships or research.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$30,119
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions$26,353
Psychology, General$25,194
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants.
Life at Carroll orbits around two hubs: the intimate 63-acre campus (where 60% of students live in dorms) and the surrounding Rocky Mountains. Weekends find students skiing at Great Divide, hiking Mount Helena, or road-tripping to Glacier National Park—all within two hours. On campus, traditions like the Christmas Tree Lighting and Saints Week pep rallies build camaraderie, while 50+ clubs range from fly-fishing to neuroscience research groups. Division II athletics (especially football and basketball) draw big crowds, but the vibe remains unpretentious—think flannel shirts at the campus pub’s trivia nights. Helena’s small-town feel means limited off-campus nightlife, but the tight community compensates: 85% of freshmen return for sophomore year.
Carroll delivers on ROI: its 66% six-year graduation rate tops Montana schools, rising to 85% for four-year completers. Alumni out-earn graduates of any other in-state college, with mid-career salaries averaging $72,000—boosted by strong placement in healthcare and tech. The college’s small size pays off in personalized career support; 93% of 2022 grads landed jobs or grad school placements within six months. Notably, Pell Grant recipients graduate at nearly the same rate as peers—a rarity in higher ed—thanks to intensive advising. Pre-professional tracks shine: nursing graduates boast a 94% NCLEX pass rate, while 80% of pre-law students gain law school admission.
At $59,040 sticker price (tuition + room/board), Carroll seems steep for a regional college—but aggressive aid slashes costs for most. The average financial aid package totals $31,353, with 99% of freshmen receiving grants or scholarships. Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. averages $27,031 after aid, though need-based awards are limited (only 17% of aid is federal grants). Top merit scholarships like the $25,000 Hunthausen Award target high-achievers, while athletic scholarships help 25% of students. One catch: four-year graduation guarantees require careful planning to avoid extra semester costs.
Carroll College is the rare institution that merges the intimacy of a liberal arts college (think: professors who host dinners at their homes) with the professional outcomes of a STEM-heavy university. Its location—a historic mining town surrounded by wilderness—attracts outdoorsy, unpretentious students who want rigorous academics without cutthroat competition. The Catholic identity manifests more in service-learning requirements than dogma, fostering a culture where 80% of students volunteer. For those seeking small classes, mountain vistas, and a degree that pays off in the Rockies, Carroll is Montana’s hidden gem.
Carroll College logo · sourceCarroll Campus | Carroll College · sourceMap & Directions | Carroll College · sourceCFO/VP of Finance & Administration | Carroll College · source
