Colleges › Pennsylvania › Carlow University
Carlow University
Admission at Carlow University is close to open (87%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $51,051 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Carlow University sits in Pittsburgh proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Roman Catholic affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Biology, General, where graduates median $134,677 four years out. 43% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 1,348 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 84.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
The numbers above and the majors table below tell the measurable half of that story.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Carlow University received 1,326 applications and admitted 1,155 (87.1%), with 227 enrolling.
How Carlow University compares
| Carlow University | Pennsylvania median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 87% | 82% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $35,874 | $33,730 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $51,051 | $62,101 | $53,781 |
At $51,051, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($62,101). Look at Carlow University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $35,874 regardless of where you're from. At Carlow University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
Enrollment sits at 1,348 — Carlow University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
59.9% graduate within six years. Roughly 40% don't — ask a Carlow University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Carlow University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Biology, General | $134,677 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $86,258 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $76,099 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $65,696 |
| Social Work | $47,486 |
| Psychology, General | $44,786 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $42,498 |
Median earnings for these 7 Carlow University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $51,051 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 27 additional Carlow University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is Carlow University's acceptance rate?
87.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,155 admitted from 1,326 applicants.
How much does Carlow University cost?
At Carlow University, published tuition is $35,874 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Carlow University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Carlow University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $51,051 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
- Delaware Valley University — 93.2% admitted
- East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania — 92% admitted
- Eastern University — 90.8% admitted
- Gwynedd Mercy University — 89.6% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.