Carroll College vs. SPU

Should I go to Carroll College or Seattle Pacific University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Carroll College or SPU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Carroll College vs. Seattle Pacific University comparison
Carroll College Seattle Pacific University College 3 College 4
Carroll College Seattle Pacific University
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Overview

Carroll College SPU
Location Helena, MT Seattle, WA
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 1,168 3,118
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #447 #270
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Free Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website carroll.edu spu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Carroll College SPU
Tuition (In State) $37,828 $36,504
Tuition (Out of State) $37,828 $36,504
Room & Board $11,182 $14,409
Avg Net Price $23,916 $26,549
Avg Grant Aid $28,266 $25,359
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Carroll College SPU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,519 3,895
Admitted 1,186 3,533
Acceptance Rate 78.1% 90.7%
Enrolled % 25% 15.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 13/29 20/27
SAT Range 1080/1200 1080/1350
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 28, 2025 Jul 11, 2025

Academics

Carroll College SPU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Carroll College SPU
Graduation Rate 59% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,500 $50,400
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,603
Median Loan Payment $279 $264

Diversity

Carroll College SPU
% Men 39% 31%
% Women 61% 69%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 80% 61%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 10%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 8%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

Carroll College SPU
% In-State 39% 71%
% Out-of-State 60% 26%

Campus

Carroll College SPU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Carroll College based on total student enrollment (3,118 students vs. 1,168 students)

Carroll College vs. SPU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carroll College or SPU?

  • Carroll College is 3.6% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($37,828.00 vs. $36,504.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.6% higher at Carroll College than Seattle Pacific University ($37,828.00 vs. $36,504.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carroll College than SPU ($23,916 vs. $26,549)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carroll College are 28.9% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($11,182 vs. $14,409)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carroll College than Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carroll College students is 11.5% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($28,266 vs. $25,359)

Carroll College vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carroll College or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Carroll College .

  • The average SAT score at Seattle Pacific University (1145) is 35 points higher than at Carroll College (1110)
  • Incoming SPU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Carroll College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Carroll College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at SPU (3.53)
  • SPU has a higher acceptance rate (90.7%) than Carroll College (78.1%)

Carroll College vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Carroll College or SPU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SPU and Carroll College.

  • The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Carroll College (74% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $2,900 more per year than Carroll College graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $47,500)
  • Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $1,397 lower median federal student loan debt than Carroll College graduates. ($25,603 vs. $27,000)
  • SPU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Carroll College graduates. ($264 vs. $279)
  • More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Carroll College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/