At $24,842/yr net price, Carroll College graduates earn $61,772/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $27,772/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $24,842 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $99,368 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,772/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$27,772/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 66.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,757 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $18,986/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,302/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,494/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,393/yr |
| $110,001+ | $29,023/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $60,325 | $27,000 |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor | $50,856 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $34,526 | $19,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $33,993 | $27,000 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor | $33,281 | |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $30,119 | $25,250 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Bachelor | $26,353 | $24,250 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $25,194 | |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $16,293 | $27,000 |
The Risk Factor
66.3% of students at Carroll College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 34% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Carroll College gives you a solid financial return if you pick the right major. Median earnings ten years out land above what graduates carry in debt, and your median debt stays low enough that you can pay it down on a nursing or engineering salary without much strain.
Nursing is the clear winner here. It's the highest-earning bachelor's program on campus, and a Carroll nursing degree feeds directly into Montana's hospital and clinic demand. Civil engineering pays off too, and both fields give you a licensed credential that travels well outside Helena. The gap between these two and everything else is stark: business, teacher education, and sociology graduates all earn under $35,000, which is roughly $25,000 a year less than nursing grads for the same $24,842 sticker price. Teacher education is the worst bet on paper here, carrying a $27,000 debt load against $33,993 in earnings.
The financial risk at Carroll is program choice, not the school itself. If you enroll for nursing or engineering and finish, the math works. If you land in a low-earning major and still take on the typical debt, you're paying private-college prices for public-teacher wages. The 66% grad rate and 81% retention mean a real share of you won't finish on time, and unfinished degrees carry debt with no salary bump.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your household earns under $48,000, you pay several thousand less per year than families above $110,000, who face the near-full price. Carroll is a good fit for you if you're aiming at nursing or civil engineering, or if you qualify for the lower income tiers. If you want a general business, teaching, or liberal arts degree and can't cover the cost without heavy borrowing, a Montana public university will cost you less for similar earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carroll College worth the money?
Carroll College graduates earn $61,772 ten years after graduation with median debt of $25,757, creating a reasonable debt-to-income ratio. The nursing and engineering programs offer strong returns, but other majors like sociology and education show weaker financial outcomes.
What are the best paying majors at Carroll College?
Nursing leads Carroll College's earnings with graduates making $60,325, followed by civil engineering at $50,856. Business, education, and sociology majors earn significantly less at $34,526, $33,993, and $33,281 respectively.
How much debt do Carroll College students typically graduate with?
Carroll College graduates leave with a median debt of $25,757, which is manageable compared to the $61,772 average earnings ten years post-graduation. The debt load represents roughly 5 months of typical graduate income.
Does Carroll College have good job placement after graduation?
Carroll College has a 66% graduation rate, which is below the national average for four-year colleges. Strong programs in nursing and engineering likely have better job prospects than the general student population.