Carlow University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Carlow University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 1,348 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 86.95% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $51,051 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $35,874
- 2024 Average Net Price: $20,786 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 86.95% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,348 77.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 59.92%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 36.8%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 22.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Average SAT Score: 1080
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,623
- Applicants (IPEDS): 1,326
- Room & Board: $13,808 annual estimate
Carlow University: what the data shows
Common questions about Carlow University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Carlow University?
Carlow University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (ZIP 15213-3165).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Carlow University public or private?
Carlow University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Carlow University cost?
Published tuition: $35,874.
Average net price after aid: $20,786.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $17,901 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $15,748 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $19,517 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $21,601 |
| $110,001+ | $25,214 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $143,496.
How hard is it to get into Carlow University?
Admission rate: 86.95%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1080 and midpoint ACT 23.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Carlow University?
Total enrollment: 1,348 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,623 students.
Graduate enrollment: 1,061 students.
About 77% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Carlow University?
150%-time completion rate: 59.92%.
First-year retention: 84.4%.
What do graduates of Carlow University earn?
Median earnings: $44,876 six years after entry; $51,051 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,500.
43.01% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Carlow University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (86 completions)
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching (59 completions)
- Family Practice Nurse/Nursing (45 completions)
- Psychology, General (39 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (33 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (31 completions)
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (30 completions)
- Social Work (23 completions)
- Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist (21 completions)
- Project Management (17 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Carlow University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 86.95%; completion rate 59.92%; median earnings $51,051 at 10 years; net price $20,786. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$35,874
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Carlow University was $35,874.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$20,786
2024 Value
In 2024 Carlow University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $20,786.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$83,144 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$20,786 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$143,496 4-Year Tuition
$13,808 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$2,000 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$51,682 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$206,728 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Carlow University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
43.01% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
69.27% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Carlow University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Carlow University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $25,416 | $25,416 | $18,616 |
| 2014 | $26,178 | $26,178 | $18,061 |
| 2015 | $26,832 | $26,832 | $18,207 |
| 2016 | $27,764 | $27,764 | $18,117 |
| 2017 | $28,596 | $28,596 | $17,127 |
| 2018 | $29,454 | $29,454 | $19,725 |
| 2019 | $30,528 | $30,528 | $20,002 |
| 2020 | $31,446 | $31,446 | $21,190 |
| 2021 | $32,390 | $32,390 | $19,581 |
| 2022 | $33,500 | $33,500 | $17,005 |
| 2023 | $34,502 | $34,502 | $20,822 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
86.95% Acceptance Rate
1,326 Total Applicants
1,155 Students Admitted
227 First-Time Students Enrolled
19.65% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1080
ACT Average: 23
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Carlow University reported total enrollment of about 1,348 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 16% male and 84% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (66.0%), Black or African American (19.1%), and Hispanic or Latino (4.7%). About 43.01% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 36.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
77.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Carlow University in 2024 is 1,348 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,623 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,061 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
84.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 66.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
48.58% 100% Completion Time
59.92% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 48.58% of students graduating from Carlow University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 13% male / 87% female
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 5% male / 95% female
- Family Practice Nurse/Nursing: 9% male / 91% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Carlow University.
Return on Investment
$25,500 Median Student Debt
$51,051 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
49.95% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
514.01% Return on Investment
5.0 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Carlow University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 53 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 86 completions
2. Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 59 completions
3. Family Practice Nurse/Nursing: 45 completions
4. Psychology, General: 39 completions
5. Business Administration and Management, General: 33 completions
6. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 31 completions
7. Mental Health Counseling/Counselor: 30 completions
8. Social Work: 23 completions
9. Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist: 21 completions
Most popular programs at Carlow University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Carlow University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Carlow University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,520
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,746
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Carlow University is a private non-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, PA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Early Childhood Education & Teaching, Family Practice Nurse/Nursing. Enrollment is approximately 1,348 students. Student body composition includes White (66.0%), Black or African American (19.1%), Hispanic or Latino (4.7%). The admission rate is 86.95%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1080. The 150%-time completion rate is 59.92%. Approximately 43.01% of students receive Pell Grants. About 36.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3165
Region: Mid East
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 53 distinct degree programs, Carlow University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carlow University located?
Carlow University is located in Pittsburgh, PA.
What is Carlow University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Carlow University is 87.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,326 applicants and 1,155 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Carlow University cost?
Reported tuition is $35,874 and average net price is $20,786 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,808 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Carlow University?
Carlow University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,623 students, White (66.0%), Black or African American (19.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Carlow University?
About 36.8% of students at Carlow University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Carlow University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Carlow University reports midpoint SAT about 1080 and midpoint ACT about 23.
What do graduates of Carlow University earn?
Median earnings are $44,876 six years after entry and $51,051 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Carlow University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 59.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Carlow University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,500.
Is Carlow University public or private?
Carlow University is a private nonprofit institution located in Pittsburgh, PA.
Is Carlow University an HBCU?
No. Carlow University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Carlow University a tribal college?
No. Carlow University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Pennsylvania college costs
- Pennsylvania colleges by ROI
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania city profile
- Mid East regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Pennsylvania
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.