Carroll College
Helena, Montana · Private Nonprofit · 70.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 66/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Carroll College in Helena, Montana scores ROI 66 (Fair Value) - a small Catholic liberal arts school with 1,092 undergraduates and a strong nursing pipeline. Average 6-year earnings reach $40,900, climbing to a median $61,772 at 10 years. The payback period is 8.8 years; the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.630 reflects real but manageable borrowing pressure. Registered Nursing with 60 graduates is the school's dominant high-ROI program and the clearest reason to consider Carroll. Business Administration is the next-largest program. The repayment rate is 87.4%, suggesting graduates are not defaulting even in modest-earning fields. Carroll's Helena location creates a distinctive student profile: outdoor-oriented, mission-focused, and operating in a state where healthcare labor demand consistently outstrips supply.
Carroll College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $41,484/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,484/yr |
| Average net price | $23,960/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $95,840 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,772 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,757 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $273 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 69.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,092 |
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: $41,484/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $23,960/year, or roughly $95,840 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 $17,072/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,005/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,757, which works out to about $273 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,900) 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 | $17,072 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,329 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,139 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,919 |
| $110,001+ | $28,005 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $17,072 per year - below the $23,960 average, suggesting Carroll does stack aid for lowest-income students. Over four years that is roughly $68,288, which is still demanding on limited income but workable for nursing students whose 1-year earnings ($75,007) can cover loan obligations. Low-income students in biology or health sciences general are at higher risk: the earnings data for those programs is weaker.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $16,329 - slightly below the lowest bracket, which is unusual. The 48,001-75,000 bracket jumps to $19,139, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket climbs to $23,919. The slope steepens through the upper middle range. Families in the $75-110k band pay about $7,500 more per year than families in the $48-75k band - a meaningful jump for families who thought they'd qualify for more aid.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $28,005 per year - below the $23,960 average net price, which reflects Carroll's overall modest discount. Over four years that is roughly $112,020. Against 10-year median earnings of $61,772, high-income families in nursing see a workable lifetime ROI; those in rehabilitation or health sciences general (earnings weaker) face a longer payback horizon at these prices.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Carroll College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $80,878 | B |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $62,284 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,597 | B |
| Biology | $32,530 | D |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $49,309 | F |
| Psychology | $49,321 | - |
| Public Health | $30,831 | D |
| Accounting | $79,048 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $52,448 | C |
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
Nursing is Carroll's clearest ROI program with 60 graduates per year. Median 1-year earnings of $75,007 and 4-year earnings of $80,878 reflect Helena's regional hospital market and the broader Montana nursing shortage, which consistently drives wages above national rural averages. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.360 (ROI grade B) with $27,000 median debt is within normal range.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration produces 27 graduates per year and is Carroll's primary non-health career pathway. Median 1-year earnings of $48,337 and 4-year earnings of $60,597 track mid-level management roles in Helena, Missoula, and Billings - Montana's three main employment centers. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.403 (ROI grade B) is healthier than expected for a small-market business degree. Montana's business environment - dominated by small-to-midsize companies, state government, and natural resources - rewards generalist business skills more than specialists, which suits Carroll's program structure.
Accounting
Accounting produces 10 graduates per year - a small cohort, but the 4-year median earnings of $79,048 (1-year data not reported) signal a CPA-track trajectory into Montana's public accounting and state finance sectors. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.304 (ROI grade B+) with $24,050 median debt is among the best efficiency ratios at Carroll. Small accounting cohorts at smaller schools often mean personalized mentorship and close employer relationships - Carroll's Helena location, near state agency headquarters, provides a specific placement context for public-sector accounting.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 89.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Carroll College’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 | 70.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 510-640 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,092 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,620 |
Carroll admits 70.9% of applicants - moderately selective. ACT 21-27; SAT Math 510-640, Reading 540-660. This profile suggests a school that is accessible but not open-enrollment. The upper range of the ACT band (27) aligns with nursing and pre-professional students who have strong academic preparation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll College (this school) | 66 | $23,960 | $61,772 |
| Westmont College | 65 | $29,053 | $64,778 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| University of Providence | 35 | $17,649 | $48,296 |
| Rocky Mountain College | 35 | $19,751 | $49,036 |
Who Thrives Here
Carroll fits students with ACT 21-27 or SAT 510-660 who want a small, faith-influenced liberal arts environment with real nursing or business outcomes. The 69.3% completion rate is acceptable. With only 20.2% Pell recipients, this is a school that predominantly serves middle-to-upper-income Montana and regional families.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Carroll College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $23,960 a year after aid ($95,840 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $61,772 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 69.3% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $25,757 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,900 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.
Carroll College: Common Questions
Is Carroll College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Carroll College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 66/100 on our ROI scale. At $23,960 a year after aid ($95,840 over four years) against $61,772 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Carroll College 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 $23,960 a year, or roughly $95,840 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 Carroll College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,772 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,972 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 Carroll College?
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 8.8 years for Carroll College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Carroll College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,757, against average earnings of $40,900 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 Carroll College?
The six-year graduation rate is 69.3%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.