Carroll College reduces tuition to improve access

(HELENA, MT) – Carroll College is simplifying the price of a Carroll education.

Beginning with the 2027–2028 academic year, Carroll College will lower its published undergraduate tuition and fees from $44,712 to $26,800, a 40% reduction.

This tuition reset replaces the high-tuition, high-discount model prevalent across higher education with a lower, clarified price. Carroll is lowering its published tuition, eliminating general undergraduate student fees, and realigning institutional aid with the new price to give families a clearer, more realistic starting point as they consider Carroll.

Families are increasingly discerning as they consider their investment in a college education, and price plays a significant role in which colleges they explore. Carroll’s research found that its high published tuition was causing some families to rule out the college before applying, visiting campus, or learning about available financial aid.

“Our Catholic mission calls us to open doors and meet families where they are,” said Carroll College President Jennifer Glowienka, Ph.D. “When we tell students they belong at Carroll, we must also provide a clear and realistic path to joining this community. This new tuition model allows more families to consider Carroll from the start.”

The new model gives families a clearer understanding of Carroll’s cost, making it easier to compare their college choices and see Carroll as a realistic option. A more transparent starting point also allows families to explore financial aid and plan for college with greater confidence.

Scholarships and financial aid will continue under the new model. With a lower published tuition, Pell Grants, outside scholarships, family savings, and donor-funded awards will cover a greater share of tuition, helping make a Carroll education more attainable for more students.

The lower published tuition will also make Carroll more competitive with other colleges and universities across Montana and put a private college education within reach for more families. At $26,800, Carroll will no longer be the state’s most expensive college based on published tuition.

The change in price will not change the Carroll experience. No academic programs, student services, or co-curricular opportunities will be reduced as a result of the reset. Students will continue to benefit from an innovative, personalized education, close faculty mentorship, and a supportive community that prepares them to think critically, lead ethically, and solve problems creatively. Carroll students consistently achieve strong outcomes, including graduate and medical school acceptance rates well above national averages, and graduate prepared for meaningful careers and lives of service. They also join a robust alumni community that provides connection and support long after graduation.

“We are expanding access without compromising the quality and personal attention that distinguish a Carroll education,” Glowienka said. “The price on paper is changing. The lifelong value of the Carroll experience is not.”

The tuition reset is the latest proactive step in Carroll’s broader effort to make the college more accessible. Carroll has been working to simplify admission and financial aid, create additional educational pathways and graduate programs, strengthen student support, and expand scholarship opportunities.

Carroll has also expanded its Pell Promise nationwide for incoming first-year and transfer students. The program fully covers tuition for federal Pell-eligible students who meet the criteria. This expansion reflects Carroll’s mission to broaden access and provide educational opportunities for students from all backgrounds.

Together, these efforts advance Carroll’s vision of serving more learners while extending the reach of its Catholic mission and sustaining the college’s strength for generations to come.

Additional information is available at carroll.edu/value.