Carlow University

Carlow University's published cost of attendance is $49,327. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $17,901, middle-income families pay around $19,517, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,214.

Azimuth ranks Carlow University #777 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Carlow's aid structure combines need-based and merit components, with need-based aid available through the FAFSA and merit scholarships available to qualifying students. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.

Financial aid reshapes the headline cost substantially for many students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds where the gap between sticker price and net price is most pronounced. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,684; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $67,381, median federal debt of $25,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $288 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Carlow University earn median 4-year earnings of $67,381, placing Carlow University in the 71.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,661 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Carlow University in the 82.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Carlow University #294 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Carlow University's program portfolio is anchored in health-related fields, which drive both enrollment scale and earnings outcomes.

Nursing is the largest program with 129 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $86,258, representing 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Biology, General program graduates 24 students with median 4-year earnings of $134,677, while Psychology, General and Health Administration round out the institution's core program mix with 20 and 16 graduates respectively.

This concentration in Health reflects the institution's mission-driven focus and corresponds to stable, in-demand career pathways that support consistent long-term earnings for graduates across the institution's primary fields.

Carlow University's program mix is anchored in health sciences and nursing — a portfolio aligned with the institution's mission as a women-centered private university in Pittsburgh. Nursing is the largest program with 129 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Psychology, General, Health Administration, and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 268 students annually, the institution concentrates in applied health and professional fields where graduates enter the workforce directly. The earnings pattern reflects this health-sciences focus.

Biology, General leads with median 4-year earnings of $134,677 from 24 graduates, followed by Nursing earning $86,258 and Business Administration earning $65,696. Social Work and Psychology, General round out the highest-earning programs with earnings of $47,486 and $44,786 respectively.

These programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand healthcare and professional roles directly after enrollment, with earnings reflecting immediate labor-market outcomes rather than delayed entry into graduate study. Carlow University's program concentration in Health — particularly Business at 5%, Education at 5%, and Social Sciences at 2% — positions graduates in sectors with consistent hiring demand and wage stability.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with national labor-market trends and regional healthcare workforce needs in the Pittsburgh area.