Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Carroll College #1334 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,309 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Carroll College in the 25.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Carroll College #969 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Carroll College #1334 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Helena, Montana, Carroll College enrolls roughly 1,092 undergraduates. Retention stands at 82.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 69.3%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts–focused institution. Carroll College performs strongest in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Carroll College #969 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant program family is Health, which aligns with strong regional demand in Montana's healthcare sector and contributes to solid long-term earnings outcomes for graduates. Graduates earn about $8,309 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Carroll College in the 25.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability round out the composite. 20.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 19.7% are first-generation college students, reflecting Carroll College's role as an accessible private option in a rural state. Azimuth ranks Carroll College in the 8.9 percentile for access and the 25.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students pursuing health-related degrees in a region where such credentials command steady employer demand, Carroll College offers a pathway to meaningful financial returns paired with manageable debt loads typical of private master's institutions.
Carroll College's published cost of attendance is $55,626. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $17,072, middle-income families pay around $19,139, and higher-income families pay approximately $28,005. Azimuth ranks Carroll College #1067 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. Carroll College's aid structure combines need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal loan options. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the college works to meet demonstrated financial need through a mix of institutional and federal resources. Merit aid is also available for qualifying students, which can further reduce net price depending on academic and other credentials. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,757, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,513; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,396, median federal debt of $25,757 projects to a monthly payment of about $291 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Carroll College is a strong fit for students drawn to health professions and related fields who want a small private college experience in MT. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $59,396, placing Carroll College in the 44.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,309 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 25.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 20.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 19.7% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Carroll College in the 58.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Carroll College's program portfolio is concentrated in Health — students interested in these fields will find strong outcomes relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Carroll College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
39 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
7 graduates
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
21 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
19 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
7 graduates
Carroll College's program mix is anchored in health sciences and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college with strong pre-professional pathways. Nursing is the largest program with 39 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, and Business Administration.
Across 20 programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength concentrated in health-related and business-adjacent fields. The highest-earning programs at Carroll College reflect the institution's health sciences focus.
Nursing graduates earn median earnings of $80,878 four years after enrollment with 39 graduates, while Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General graduates earn $62,284 and Business Administration graduates earn $60,597. Psychology, General and Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions round out the top earners with graduates earning $49,321 and $49,309 respectively.
These programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes in stable, in-demand fields. The program portfolio emphasizes applied professional preparation aligned with regional employer demand in Montana and the broader Mountain West.
Health sciences—including nursing, pre-medicine, and related clinical fields—dominate the earnings profile and graduate employment patterns. Carroll College serves students seeking clear career pathways with predictable earnings trajectories, particularly those drawn to healthcare and professional service sectors.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with national labor-market trends and regional hiring patterns.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lancaster Bible College Similar quality tier (#36067 ranked) | PA | 56% | $44,096 | #36067 | Compare |
Cornell College Similar quality tier (#36064 ranked) | IA | 80% | $53,460 | #36064 | Compare |
Lee University Similar quality tier (#36071 ranked) | TN | 71% | $43,222 | #36071 | Compare |
Nichols College Similar quality tier (#36062 ranked) | MA | 81% | $58,063 | #36062 | Compare |
Bryn Mawr College Similar quality tier (#36060 ranked) | PA | 29% | $75,217 | #36060 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Carroll College's published cost of attendance is $55,626. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $17,072, middle-income families pay around $19,139, and higher-income families pay approximately $28,005.
Azimuth ranks Carroll College #1067 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.
Carroll College's aid structure combines need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal loan options. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the college works to meet demonstrated financial need through a mix of institutional and federal resources.
Merit aid is also available for qualifying students, which can further reduce net price depending on academic and other credentials. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,757, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,513; 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 $59,396, median federal debt of $25,757 projects to a monthly payment of about $291 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 Carroll College earn median 4-year earnings of $59,396, placing Carroll College in the 44.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,309 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Carroll College in the 25.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Carroll College #969 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Carroll College's program portfolio centers on health-related fields, which drive both enrollment and earnings outcomes.
Nursing is the largest program with 39 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $80,878, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Biology, General program graduates 22 students earning $32,530, and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General contributes 21 graduates with median earnings of $62,284.
These health and applied-science programs form the institutional core, supported by Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions and Business Administration, which together shape Carroll's earnings profile and career-placement patterns for graduates entering Montana's healthcare and professional-services sectors.
