Admit rate has ranged 58%–72% 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 University, Wisconsin's first four-year institution, is a small, pragmatic liberal arts school in Waukesha that feels like a well-kept secret. Its identity is split between a classic liberal arts core and a powerful, career-oriented engine in the health professions, where a significant portion of its students find their path. The campus vibe is close-knit and residential, with a majority of students living on or near its walkable grounds, and its financial proposition—a relatively high graduation rate paired with a notably low net price—makes it a compelling value play in the Midwest.
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
2,523
In-state tuition
$38,890
Out-of-state tuition
$38,890
Areas of Study
95+
Graduation Rate
71%
On-Campus Housing
60%
Median Earnings (10yr)
$58,009
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$58,009
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.8×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
71%
First-year retention
78%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
72%
Pell (lower-income) share
23%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
27%
Financial health
2.3 / 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.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$74,576
Computer Science$62,012
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$61,317
Accounting and Related Services$54,644
Business Administration, Management and Operations$45,618
Special Education and Teaching
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
0.32
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
94
Summer high
80°F
Winter low
18°F
Annual rain
39.4"
Annual snow
38.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
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
70
Scholarly works
1,134
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
0.6%
Bottom → top quintile
21%
From bottom quintile
3%
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 University?
Carroll University's acceptance rate is approximately 67% (Waukesha, WI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Carroll University?
Admitted students at Carroll University typically score 1040–1270 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Carroll University cost?
At Carroll University, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,193 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Carroll University?
Carroll University enrolls approximately 2,523 undergraduate students.
Where is Carroll University located?
Carroll University is located in Waukesha, WI.
Admissions
Carroll's admissions process is accessible and straightforward, reflecting its mission to serve a broad student body. With an of 67%, the university is moderately selective, admitting a clear majority of its over 6,000 applicants. The process is , accepting the Common Application, and places its primary emphasis on academic factors. While the university does not publish a detailed breakdown of factor importance from its , the high acceptance rate suggests a that is not hyper-competitive. The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is reported to be 17%, indicating that Carroll is often one of several options for admitted students. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students who submit scores is 1040–1270, aligning with its accessible profile.
The academic experience at Carroll is defined by breadth of choice and an intimate scale. The university offers more than 95 areas of study across the liberal arts and sciences, promising small class sizes and close faculty interaction. However, the curriculum has a distinct, practical tilt: the most popular majors cluster firmly in and . This creates a campus where pre-professional training in fields like nursing, exercise science, and physical therapy exists alongside traditional disciplines. The structure suggests a 'best of both worlds' approach for students seeking a foundational liberal arts education with clear, direct pathways to in-demand careers. The academic culture is likely supportive rather than intensely pressured, geared toward preparing graduates with both knowledge and applicable skills.
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.
$43,128
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$41,441
Graphic Communications$40,768
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.
Life at Carroll is intensely residential and community-focused. A full 60% of students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, creating a campus-centric environment where the majority of the student body is present and engaged. Descriptions of the campus highlight it as small and walkable, which fosters a close-knit and welcoming community. The university administration actively cultivates this through dedicated orientation mentors, programming aimed at smooth transitions, and an Office of Community Culture focused on creating meaningful cross-cultural experiences. The commitment to a "welcoming and inclusive living and learning environment for every member of our campus" is a stated priority, shaping the overall student experience. This results in a classic small-college atmosphere where it's easy to get involved and difficult to get lost in the crowd.
Carroll's outcomes tell a story of solid return on investment. Its graduation rate of 71% is notably above the midpoint for four-year colleges, indicating strong student support and persistence. The payoff for that degree is clear: median earnings for Carroll graduates ten years after entry are $58,009. The university itself boasts that the median annual earnings for its graduates are 19% higher than the national average for four-year college graduates, though it cites a slightly higher figure of $62,000. This earnings premium, particularly when paired with the university's lower-than-average , forms the core of its value proposition. The data suggests Carroll effectively prepares its graduates, especially those in its popular health and kinesiology fields, for stable, middle-class careers.
Financial accessibility is a central part of Carroll's pitch. The average after aid—what families actually pay—is $15,193, which is significantly below the national midpoint for four-year colleges. The university awards more than $40 million in financial aid annually, with the average full-time financial aid package totaling $33,337. The average need-based scholarship is $26,328. A majority of students (71.69%) receive financial aid, with an average aid package of $33,023 according to one source. This aggressive discounting from a sticker price of over $59,000 makes a Carroll education financially viable for a wide range of families. The university provides a net price calculator and encourages its use, signaling a transparent approach to helping families plan.
Carroll University stands out for its potent combination of practical outcomes and personal scale at an accessible price. It avoids the identity crisis of many small liberal arts colleges by fully embracing its strength as a feeder into the robust healthcare and wellness sectors, all while maintaining a broad curriculum. The result is a no-nonsense education where the classic small-college experience—residential, community-oriented, with close faculty contact—is directly linked to tangible career results, as evidenced by its strong graduation and earnings numbers. In a higher education landscape filled with either hyper-selective liberal arts colleges or large, impersonal professional schools, Carroll occupies a valuable middle ground: a place where students can get a supportive, well-rounded education without sacrificing post-graduate prospects, and do so without incurring crippling debt.
Gallery
Carroll University seal · sourceCarroll Campus | Carroll College · sourceCampus and Student Life | Carroll University · sourceGetting to Campus · source
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