Carroll College
Carroll College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Carroll College at a Glance
Carroll College is a private Catholic college in Helena, Montana, United States. The college has 21 buildings on a 63-acre campus, has over 35 academic majors, participates in 15 NAIA athletic sports, and is home to All Saints Chapel. The college motto, in Latin, is Non scholae, sed vitae. The college translates this into English as "Not for school, but for life." Carroll's colors are purple and gold and the school's athletics teams are known as the Fighting Saints.
1909
117 years old
$78M
$78 million (2025)
1,103
1,062 undergrad · 41 grad
Identity
Is Carroll College Worth It?
Carroll College offers moderate value at $23,960/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $61,772, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 68% graduation rate means roughly 32% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Carroll College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #21 of 120 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of St Francis | 81 | $13,006 | $63,926 |
| #2 | Kalamazoo College | 68 | $19,072 | $65,590 |
| #3 | Albion College | 61 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| #4 | Canisius University | 58 | $17,940 | $60,681 |
| #5 | Fresno Pacific University | 57 | $13,630 | $58,896 |
| #6 | Clarkson College | 57 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| #21 | Carroll College | 44 | $23,960 | $61,772 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Carroll College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Carroll College
The highest-earning program at Carroll College is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $58,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Biology, General at $24,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from Carroll College earns $58,000, while a Biology, General graduate earns $24,300. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $25,000 for Biology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $23,960/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $58,000 | $58,000 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $33,700 | $33,700 | N/A |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $29,500 | $29,500 | $26,000 |
| Psychology, General | $28,500 | $28,500 | $26,000 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $27,100 | $27,100 | $24,625 |
| Biology, General | $24,300 | $24,300 | $25,000 |
Similar Colleges in MT
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Helena, MT
- Student Body
- 1,092 students
- Admission Rate
- 71%
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $23,960
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $61,772
- Median Student Debt
- $25,757