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Carroll College

#473 in US ranking Helena, MT
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$56,907
Tuition & fees
$43,070
Avg. aid
$30,471
Receiving aid
100%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
71%
SAT range
1050–1300
ACT range
21–27

Outcomes

Graduation rate
69%
Median salary
$50,631
1 yr after graduation

What is the history of Carroll College?

Carroll College is a private Catholic college in Helena, Montana, founded in 1909 by Bishop John Patrick Carroll. It began as Mount St. Charles College and later took the Carroll name, a change that reflects its connection to the bishop who established it.

The college's early purpose was to provide higher education in Montana within a Catholic tradition. It has since developed a broader undergraduate curriculum that includes liberal arts, sciences, business, education, engineering, and health-related fields. Its history remains visible in its Catholic identity, but applicants should evaluate the present-day programs and requirements for the particular major they want to pursue.

What are the faculties and departments at Carroll College?

Carroll College organizes its academics around undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences alongside professional and preprofessional study. Its program offerings include biology, psychology, business, education, engineering, and nursing, as well as humanities and social-science subjects.

For applicants, the distinction between a major and a professional pathway matters. A biology or health-sciences degree, for example, is not itself a license to practice a health profession; nursing and teacher-preparation students must also account for program requirements and applicable licensing rules. Engineering applicants should check the accreditation and curriculum of the specific engineering program they intend to enter rather than assume every engineering-related course of study has the same status.

Carroll's reported student-to-faculty ratio is 12 to 1. That institution-wide measure describes scale, not the size of every class or access to a particular course. Students comparing majors can get a more useful picture by examining course schedules, laboratory requirements, clinical placements, and the sequence of classes needed to graduate.

What is the location of Carroll College?

Carroll College's campus is in Helena, Montana's capital city. Students have access to a state-government center and a small-city setting rather than a large metropolitan campus.

That location may be relevant to students interested in public service, policy, health care, or local internships, although opportunities depend on openings and individual qualifications. Helena Regional Airport is the nearest airport. Students traveling from farther away should account for flight connections and ground transportation; first-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus, but parking rules and costs should be checked before arrival.

What is the mission and vision of Carroll College?

Carroll College identifies itself as a Catholic college with a liberal-arts educational mission. Its stated approach connects intellectual development with ethical reflection, service, and attention to the whole person.

That religious identity is part of the institution's educational philosophy, not a substitute for examining an individual program. Prospective students can look at the current catalog's general-education and theology or philosophy requirements to understand how the mission affects their coursework. The college's stated values describe what it aims to provide; they do not, by themselves, establish a particular student outcome.

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Carroll College Profile - Basic Information

Name of the institution

Carroll College

Level of institution

Four or more years

Control of institution

Private

Setting type

City: Small

Institutional Category

Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or above

Institution size category

1,000 - 4,999

Religious affiliation

Catholic (Roman Catholic Church)

School type

Comprehensive higher education institution

Main student body

Coeducational

Calendar system

Semesters

Foundation year

1909

Carroll College Accreditation

Carroll College is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.

Carroll College Programs and Degrees

iconCertificate of less than 1 year
iconBachelor's degree
iconPostbaccalaureate certificate
iconMaster's degree

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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