Carlow University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 87.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Carlow University scores 45 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 13.9-year payback period, $40,400 average 6-year earnings, and a 59.9% completion rate. Median debt of $25,500 against those earnings produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.631 - a burden that leaves many graduates financially stretched. The net price of $20,786 is the central cost figure. Registered Nursing is the institution's clear ROI anchor: 92 graduates, $70,269 year-one, $86,258 year-four, with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.406. Nursing alone accounts for a disproportionate share of the income the Scorecard captures for this institution. Outside of nursing, outcomes thin quickly. Accounting (15 graduates, $76,099 at year four, B+ grade) is the next bright spot, but volume is low. Biology shows a dramatic gap between year-one earnings ($36,211) and year-four ($134,677), the latter likely reflecting pre-med pipelines to graduate or professional school that inflate the Scorecard figure without appearing in the near-term data. The 59.9% completion rate is the most important risk flag: roughly four in ten students who enroll at Carlow do not finish within normal time, which means the advertised outcomes apply only to the portion who complete.
Carlow University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,874/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,874/yr |
| Average net price | $20,786/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $83,144 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,051 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $270 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 59.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,348 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $35,874/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,786/year, or roughly $83,144 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $17,901/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,214/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,500, which works out to about $270 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,400) and comes to 0.63, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,901 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,748 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,517 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,601 |
| $110,001+ | $25,214 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $17,901 net price per year at Carlow - $71,604 over four years. With average earnings at $40,400 and a 13.9-year payback period, the arithmetic is tight even at this income level. Pell grants and institutional aid bring the price down meaningfully from the $35,874 sticker, but the completion rate risk (40% non-completion) means a significant share of low-income enrollees will carry debt without a degree. The nursing program is the clearest path to a positive outcome for this income group.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $19,517 per year - slightly above the lowest bracket, reflecting a smaller aid increment in this range. The 75001-110000 bracket pays $21,601, showing a gradual step up. Middle-income families considering Carlow outside of nursing or accounting face a meaningful affordability question: $78,000-$86,000 in four-year net cost against $40,400 average earnings and a 13.9-year payback is a challenging ratio. Major selection drives whether Carlow is a reasonable investment at this income tier.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $25,214 per year at Carlow - roughly $100,856 over four years. High-income families with students targeting nursing or accounting may find it acceptable given the program-level outcomes, but the overall institutional ROI score of 45 makes the cost-to-outcome ratio a weak one.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Carlow University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $86,258 | B |
| Teacher Education | $42,498 | D |
| Biology | $134,677 | D |
| Psychology | $44,786 | D |
| Accounting | $76,099 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,696 | C |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $56,834 | C |
| Social Work | $47,486 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is the ROI core of Carlow, delivering $70,269 median year-one earnings and $86,258 at year four across 92 graduates - the largest program by volume. Median debt of $28,500 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.406 (ROI grade B), which is reasonable given the earnings trajectory. Pittsburgh's healthcare sector provides strong local demand. Students who complete the nursing program exit with a license, strong regional employment options, and manageable debt service. The nursing pipeline is the primary financial argument for attending Carlow.
Accounting
Accounting (15 graduates) reaches $76,099 at year four with median debt of $26,500 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.348 (ROI grade B+). Volume is small but the trajectory is defensible. Graduates likely enter regional public accounting firms and corporate finance roles in the Pittsburgh market. The B+ grade is the second-best program-level result at Carlow and makes accounting a financially viable path for students who complete the degree.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (15 graduates) earns $48,121 at year one and $65,696 at year four, with median debt of $27,351 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.568 (ROI grade C). The earnings are adequate but the debt load against those outcomes is tight. Business is a workable path if debt is minimized.
Psychology
Psychology (17 graduates) earns $35,024 year-one and $44,786 year-four, with median debt of $29,552 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.844 (ROI grade D). Nearly 85 cents of median debt for every dollar of annual earnings is a strained ratio - graduates will spend years in elevated debt-service relative to income. Psychology at Carlow is better suited to students pursuing graduate school in clinical or counseling fields, where near-term earnings are not the primary measure. Students not planning graduate school should carefully weigh this path.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Carlow University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 87.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-598 |
| Enrollment | 1,348 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 43.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,520 |
At 87% admission rate, Carlow admits the overwhelming majority of applicants. No ACT data is reported. SAT ranges (460-570 Math, 500-598 Reading) suggest a broad-access profile. Admission is not a bottleneck here - the relevant question is program fit and completion likelihood, given that 40% of students do not finish. Prospective students should evaluate the nursing program's selective clinical placement process separately from general admissions.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Carlow's Pell rate is 43%, reflecting its access mission and the financial profile of its student population.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlow University (this school) | 45 | $20,786 | $51,051 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Oglethorpe University | 48 | $19,509 | $55,232 |
| Concordia University-Nebraska | 45 | $23,965 | $52,415 |
| Lakeland University | 44 | $24,212 | $55,961 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Carlow is a small Pittsburgh private with 1,348 students and an 87% admission rate, making it an accessible option for students who did not gain admission to more selective institutions. SAT mid-ranges (460-570 Math, 500-598 Reading) reflect a broad academic range. Pell grant rate of 43% indicates that low- and moderate-income students make up a significant share of the student body. The institution's Catholic heritage and mission-driven culture appeal to students interested in health professions, social work, and education. Students targeting the Registered Nursing program have the clearest path to a positive financial outcome. Students considering liberal arts or behavioral science majors should carefully model the debt-to-earnings trajectory before enrolling.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Carlow University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $20,786 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $51,051 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 13.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Carlow University: Common Questions
Is Carlow University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Carlow University scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,786 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $51,051 ten years after entry, so it takes about 13.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Carlow University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $20,786 a year, or roughly $83,144 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Carlow University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $51,051 ten years after enrolling, roughly $9,251 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Carlow University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 13.9 years for Carlow University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Carlow University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,500, against average earnings of $40,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Carlow University?
The six-year graduation rate is 59.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.