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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%.
To find out more about what Carlow University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
1,355
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$34,546
Tuition
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
60%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Learn some essential facts about admission policy and requirements 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 enrolled 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 freshman students 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 ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 22 and the average GPA was 3.56. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 540 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 525.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Carlow University was 84.4% in 2025, a reflection of the high standards and excellent 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 institution stands at 60%.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Carlow University in 2025 was 2,416.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 3% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 1,355, 13 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 215.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 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. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 45, and the number of Black American students was 257. 63 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 60 as multirace. There were also 18 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some important facts on Carlow University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Carlow University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $34,546 in 2025. Carlow University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,328.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to pay about $2,000 for books and supplies during their time at Carlow University.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Carlow University amounted to $13,808 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 totaled $7,124 for one academic year. 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
Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Carlow University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 147 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $25,094.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
858 students were awarded some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 858. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $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. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (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. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $361,626 USD.
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at Carlow University was 11:1. That means that there were 11 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 338 faculty members at this school. 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
Not everything at Carlow University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some information about students' life at Carlow University.
Its campus is 13 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
The student organization that is most favored by students is PSEA (School Education Association), followed by SNAP (Student Nursing Association) and SPiRiT (Student Ambassadors). Other popular organizations at Carlow University are Campus Activities Board and Student Government Association.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a talent for media and communication? Carlow University publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Carlow University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical 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. The school has 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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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Carlow University is 34,546 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Carlow University is 86%.
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According to the latest information, 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.