Carroll College Summary
Carroll provides a wide range of liberal arts courses as well as professional academic programs. Students have the opportunity to select from majors in Biology, Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Information Systems, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Nursing, Health Sciences, Public Health, Psychology, Business, Political Science, International Relations, Education, Theology, Philosophy and Anthrozoology. Students can also customize their academic plans with a wide variety of minors, certificates and pre-professional pathways.
The college emphasizes small classes, faculty access, undergraduate research, internships and preparation for employment or graduate study. Students at its Helena campus have access to Montana state government, health-care organizations, businesses, engineering employers, nonprofits and community agencies. Students interested in pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, law, veterinary medicine, and other professions may choose to pursue a specific pre-professional program in conjunction with their undergraduate major.
Carroll’s particular strength is in the health professions. The college offers a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as well as an accelerated nursing pathway for students with previous college education. Carroll also has Health Sciences and Public Health and offers several pre-health tracks. Another professional option is through a graduate Master of Social Work program. A proposed Physician Assistant program is in development with a planned first cohort in 2028 pending receipt of the required provisional accreditation.
The Helena campus offers a blend of academic facilities, residence halls, apartments, laboratories, computer facilities, the Corette Library and Simperman Learning Commons, athletic facilities, dining, student centers and All Saints Chapel. First-year students are generally expected to live on campus and participate in a meal plan which supports a residential college environment.
Carroll was founded on its Catholic and diocesan roots, but it is open to all students regardless of their background or beliefs. The core curriculum of the college stresses communication, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, scientific and quantitative analysis, and broad intellectual development.
Extra Info
Carroll College Quick Facts
Particular | Details |
Institute Name | Carroll College |
Short Name | Carroll |
Country | United States |
State | Montana |
City | Helena |
Complete Address | 1601 N Benton Ave, Helena, MT 59625, United States |
Institute Type | Private nonprofit liberal arts college |
Religious Affiliation | Catholic, diocesan |
Established | 1909 |
Original Name | Mount St. Charles College |
Current Name Adopted | 1932 |
Academic Calendar | Semester |
Teaching Language | English |
Campus | Helena, Montana |
Campus Size | Approximately 63 acres |
Student Population | More than 1,100 students |
Average Class Size | 12 students |
Student-Faculty Ratio | Approximately 12:1 |
Undergraduate Degrees | BA and BS |
Graduate Education | Master of Social Work; additional professional programs under development |
Athletics | NAIA |
Athletic Name | Fighting Saints |
Institutional Accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
Official Phone | +1 406-447-4300 |
Carroll reported more than 1,100 students at the beginning of the 2025–26 academic year, while current institutional material describes an average class size of 12 and approximately a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Carroll College Minors
Available minors include areas such as:
- Anthrozoology
- Biology
- Business: Accounting & Strategic Finance
- Catholic Studies
- Chemistry
- Communication Studies
- Computer Science & Information Systems
- Constitutional Studies
- Cybersecurity
- Data Science
- English
- Ethics & Value Studies
- Fine Arts
- Gender Studies
- Health Care and Human Connections
- Hispanic Studies & Languages
- History
- International Relations
- Leadership Studies
- Marketing
- Mathematics
- Music
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Reading Education
- ROTC & Military Science
- Sociology
- Spanish for Health Professions
- Special Education
- Sustainability & Service
- Theatre
- Theology
Carroll College Certificates
Current certificate offerings include programs such as:
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial Planning
- French
- Healthcare Leadership
Additional certificate or specialized offerings may change by academic year.
Carroll College Pre-Professional Programs
Carroll provides structured preparation for students planning professional education after completing an undergraduate degree.
Current pre-professional pathways include:
- Pre-Athletic Training
- Pre-Chiropractic
- Pre-Dental
- Pre-Law
- Pre-Medical
- Pre-Occupational Therapy
- Pre-Optometry
- Pre-Pharmacy
- Pre-Physical Therapy
- Pre-Physician Assistant
- Pre-Registered Dietitian
- Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Students normally complete one of Carroll's undergraduate majors while also satisfying prerequisites needed for their intended professional school.
Carroll College Nursing
Carroll offers a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing pathway and an accelerated nursing option.
The Accelerated Nursing Track is designed for students who already have previous college education in a non-nursing field. The current program is structured as an approximately 15-month BSN pathway. Graduates become academically eligible to pursue registered-nurse licensure after meeting applicable examination and state licensing requirements.
Carroll's nursing degree is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing.
Recent accelerated nursing cohorts have also recorded strong NCLEX-RN performance; Carroll reported a four-year average pass rate of 98.5% for accelerated nursing graduates in 2026.
Master of Social Work
Carroll offers a graduate Master of Social Work with:
- Traditional 60-credit pathway
- Advanced Standing 30-credit pathway
The program emphasizes clinical social work, trauma-informed care, integrated care, evidence-based practice and service to vulnerable and underserved populations.
Physician Assistant Program
Carroll is developing a graduate Physician Assistant program.
The proposed program plans to enroll its first cohort in May 2028, but enrollment is dependent upon receiving Accreditation-Provisional status from ARC-PA. Until that approval is received, the program should be described as proposed/developing rather than an already accredited operating PA program.
Carroll College Course Duration
Program Type | Typical Duration |
Bachelor's Degree | Approximately 4 years |
Traditional BSN | Approximately 4 years |
Accelerated Nursing BSN | Approximately 15 months |
MSW Traditional Track | Program-specific; 60 credits |
MSW Advanced Standing | Program-specific; 30 credits |
Certificates | Varies |
Pre-Professional Preparation | Usually completed alongside bachelor's degree |
Study Mode
Most undergraduate programs are delivered through Carroll's Helena campus. Study mode can include:
- Classroom instruction
- Laboratory learning
- Clinical education
- Fieldwork
- Internships
- Undergraduate research
- Online or technology-supported coursework where offered
- Study-abroad programs
Accelerated Nursing Fees
The accelerated BSN uses a specialized fee structure. Published cost information for applicable cohorts includes semester tuition, program fees, clinical fees, liability insurance and student fees.
Carroll's cost information has shown program tuition of approximately $13,750 per semester for certain accelerated nursing cohorts, plus program and clinical charges. Applicants should use the cohort-specific fee schedule because the accelerated nursing program operates on a different calendar from the standard undergraduate academic year.
Carroll College Library
The Corette Library and Simperman Learning Commons serves as a major academic-support center.
Facilities and services include:
- Individual study areas
- Group study spaces
- Computer laboratories
- Research assistance
- Print resources
- Electronic resources
- Interlibrary loan
- Course reserves
- Whiteboards
- Projectors
- Podcasting facilities
- Green-screen/lightboard studio
- Tutoring and learning support
Computer laboratories are also available in campus residence halls.
Carroll College Infrastructure and Facilities
Major campus resources include:
- Corette Library
- Simperman Learning Commons
- Computer laboratories
- Science laboratories
- Nursing simulation facilities
- Engineering facilities
- Classrooms and collaborative learning spaces
- Residence halls
- Campus apartments
- St. Thomas Aquinas Commons dining facility
- All Saints Chapel
- Student activity spaces
- Physical Education Center
- Fitness and weight-training facilities
- Athletic fields
- Student wellness resources
- Campus security
- Parking
- Career and academic advising services
Carroll's institutional information describes approximately 21 principal buildings on a roughly 63-acre campus.
Carroll College Housing
First-year students are generally required to live on campus and hold a meal plan unless granted an approved exemption.
Residence options include:
- Guadalupe Hall
- St. Charles Hall
- Borromeo Hall
- Trinity Hall
- St. Matthew Apartments
- St. Catherine Apartments
- Other designated campus apartments
Apartment eligibility generally favors juniors, seniors and certain graduate, nontraditional or family-status students depending on the building.
Carroll College Dining
Residential dining is centered around the St. Thomas Aquinas Commons.
Anytime dining plans provide unlimited access to the campus restaurant during operating hours. Plans differ mainly in included Flex dollars and guest benefits.
Carroll also provides smaller block plans for eligible commuters, faculty and staff.
Carroll College Athletics
Carroll College athletic teams compete as the Fighting Saints.
The college participates in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and currently advertises 17 NAIA teams. Competition is primarily associated with the Frontier Conference, while selected sports compete through other conference arrangements.
Sports offered include combinations of:
- Football
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Volleyball
- Cross Country
- Track and Field
- Golf
- Softball
- Other varsity competition
Athletic facilities include the Physical Education Center, arena spaces, training facilities, locker rooms, weight-training areas and outdoor venues.
Carroll College Student Life
Student life combines residential living, academics, athletics, faith, service, clubs and outdoor recreation.
Students can participate in:
- Student government
- Academic organizations
- Professional clubs
- Cultural organizations
- Campus ministry
- Service activities
- Speech and debate
- Music
- Theatre
- Intramural activities
- Outdoor recreation
- Athletics
- Volunteer programs
- Leadership activities
Helena's location near the Rocky Mountains also gives students access to hiking, skiing, biking, camping and other outdoor activities.
Carroll College Study Abroad
Carroll supports global education through exchange, faculty-led and other approved international programs.
Federal aid can apply to eligible Carroll-sponsored study-abroad opportunities, while institutional merit aid can also be used with many approved exchange programs. Carroll indicates access to more than 150 exchange-program opportunities under its global-learning arrangements.
Carroll College Accreditation
Carroll College is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Its accreditation was reaffirmed in 2026 following a comprehensive evaluation, with the reaffirmation extending through 2032.
Specialized Accreditation and Approval
- Business programs — specialized accreditation through IACBE.
- Civil Engineering and Engineering Science — accredited through ABET's Engineering Accreditation Commission.
- Nursing — accredited by CCNE.
- Nursing — approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing.
- Teacher Education — approved for licensure purposes by the Montana State Board of Public Education.
- Master of Social Work — currently progressing through the applicable CSWE accreditation process.
Carroll College Rankings
Rankings vary by publication and edition and should always be displayed with the ranking year.
Carroll's current institutional distinctions page lists:
- #1 Best Value Regional College in the West — U.S. News, 2024–25
- #3 Regional College in the West — U.S. News, 2024–25
- #2 Regional College in the West for Veterans — U.S. News, 2024–25
- Recognition in Money's Best Colleges in America.
- Continuing recognition in regional and value-focused college rankings.
For 2026, College Factual ranked Carroll #1 among its evaluated colleges in Montana and #18 in its Rocky Mountains regional ranking. Ranking methodologies differ, so these results should be treated as publisher-specific rather than universal measures of institutional quality.
Carroll College Location
Carroll College is located at:
1601 N Benton Ave
Helena, Montana 59625
United States
Helena Regional Airport is approximately a ten-minute drive from campus under normal conditions.
Helena's position as Montana's capital provides students with access to government agencies, hospitals, businesses, professional organizations and nonprofit institutions.
