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Pittsburgh , PA
Carlow University is a private, Catholic liberal arts university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1929, it was originally established as Mount Mercy College by the Sisters of Mercy, a Roman Catholic religious order. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields of study, including business, nursing, education, psychology, and more.
Carlow prides itself on its commitment to social justice and its mission to educate a diverse population of students. The university offers a supportive and inclusive community where students can thrive academically and personally. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1, students receive individual attention and guidance from experienced faculty members who are dedicated to their success.
The campus of Carlow University is situated in a picturesque setting in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Students have access to modern facilities, including state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, and recreational areas. The university also provides various extracurricular activities and organizations for students to participate in and enhance their college experience. With its strong emphasis on academic excellence, community engagement, and social justice, Carlow University offers a nurturing environment for students to grow and prepare for their future careers.
Carlow University is a private university located in Pittsburgh, PA and set in an urban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 86%. The freshman retention rate at Carlow University is 84.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 60%.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into Carlow University.
Quick Facts
1,355
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$34,546
Tuition
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
60%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly increase. Here are the most essential data you should know about admission at Carlow University.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,100 in 2025. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
28% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 3% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 6.3% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 17.5% between 1,200 and 1,399, 57.1% between 1,000 and 1,199, 17.5% between 800 and 999, and 1.6% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 20, 60 between 24-29, 20 in the range between 18-23, and 50 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 22 while the average GPA was 3.56. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Carlow University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 540 and an average SAT Math score of 525.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Carlow University was 84.4%, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 60%.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Carlow University in 2025 was 2,416.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 3. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 1,355, 13 of which were international students. The school reported to have a total of 215 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 311 male and 1,620 female full-time students in 2025. 63 full-time graduate men and 511 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 45 Asian students and 257 Afro-American students in 2025. 63 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 60 identified with more than one race. There were also 18 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Carlow University estimated tuition price.
Tuition in 2025 was $34,546 for full-time domestic students. As Carlow University is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $1,328 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $2,000.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Carlow University was $13,808 per academic year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school totaled $7,124, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $7,124.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 34,546 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,808 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 2,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 50,354 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support available to students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Carlow University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 147 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $25,094.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
858 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 858. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $4,143,944, and state $2,604,351. The students of Carlow University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $11,089,855, and external in the amount of $739,636.
$18,030
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 252 students overall (including freshmen) at Carlow University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 56 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $4,143,944 while the state aid is $3,698. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $2,799,684. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $361,626 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Carlow University was 11:1. That means that there were 11 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 338 faculty members. This number included 72 men and 266 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Carlow University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Carlow University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at Carlow University.
Its campus is 13 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is PSEA (School Education Association), followed by SNAP (Student Nursing Association) and SPiRiT (Student Ambassadors). Other popular organizations among the students at Carlow University are Campus Activities Board and Student Government Association.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, Carlow University publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Carlow University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Carlow University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Carlow University.
Career Counselling
At Carlow University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career.
FAQ
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Carlow University is located in Pittsburgh, PA.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Carlow University is 34,546 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Carlow University is 86%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Carlow University is 84.4%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
