Carlow University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 1,348 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes61
Value40
Affordability61
Selectivity30
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 87%, Carlow University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
87%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
960 – 1168
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Carlow University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
4.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Carlow University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,786 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,786
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
43%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
69%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$35,874
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,808
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,808
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,382
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,382
Total Cost of Attendance
$49,327
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,901
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,748
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,517
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,601
Over $110,000
$25,214
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,44110%percentile
$9,25025%percentile
$25,500Medianpercentile
$30,26475%percentile
$41,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,250
↓ $2,250
No Pell $19,500
↓ $6,000
Dependent students $21,353
↓ $4,147
Independent students $22,230
↓ $3,270
Female students $21,526
↓ $3,974
Male students $20,388
↓ $5,112
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($25,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
54% of full-time students who enrolled at Carlow University graduate within six years, and 81% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
54%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
81%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Carlow University earn a median of $51,051 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,051
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$43,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$53,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,100, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 85% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Carlow University is home to 1,348 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,348
Part-Time
23%
First-Generation
37%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.0%890
Black 19.1%257
Other 4.9%66
Hispanic 4.7%63
Asian 3.2%43
International 1.0%13
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Carlow University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Housing
Partly residential404 beds available
Adult Learners
32%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Carlow University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
51 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carlow University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$79M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,567
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
105 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
21
20%
$85,776
Associate Professors
28
27%
$73,364
Assistant Professors
32
30%
$62,742
Instructors
24
23%
$55,677
Pros & Cons of Carlow University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Carlow University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Carlow University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Carlow University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Carlow University.
Is Carlow University hard to get into?
Carlow University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 87%.
What is the acceptance rate at Carlow University?
Carlow University has an acceptance rate of 87%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Carlow University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Carlow University scored between 960 and 1168 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Carlow University cost?
The average net price after aid at Carlow University is $20,786 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Carlow University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,051 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,786 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Carlow University known for?
Carlow University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Carlow University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Carlow University are $51,051, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Carlow University accredited?
Yes. Carlow University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Carlow University?
Carlow University enrolls 1,348 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Carlow University?
Carlow University graduates 54% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Carlow University a public or private college?
Carlow University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Carlow University located?
Carlow University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Carlow University offer?
Carlow University offers 51 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Carlow University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carlow University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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