Carroll College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Carroll College charges a net price of $23,960/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $95,840. Graduates earn a median $61,772 ten years after entry, $13,412/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7.1 years — a 20-year net return of $172,400, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Carroll College's 7.1-year payback ranks #621 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 52% of them, and #1 of 18 in Montana.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $23,960/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $95,840 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $61,772 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $13,412/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,757 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 7.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $172,400 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Carroll College's own numbers. Net price $23,960 × 4 years = $95,840 total. Median earnings $61,772 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $13,412 a year of premium. $95,840 ÷ $13,412 = 7.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $172,400. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Carroll College students graduate with?
A median $25,757 in federal loans among completers, or 42% of the $61,772 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Carroll College students graduate?
69% finish their degree — 31% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $95,840 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $138,899 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Carroll College expensive compared with other Montana colleges?
Its $23,960 net price runs $10,147 above the $13,813 median across the 18 Montana colleges we profile, or $40,588 more across the full degree.