Milestones of Distinction
We believe in the quality of our experience, and we know ours is a special community. But we’re not alone. Carroll is consistently recognized at the national level for excellence in academic programs, athletics, value, and the accomplishments of our alumni.
And while no ranking will ever replace the adventures our people share, it’s nice knowing that the world has noticed.
Academic Rankings
- #1 – US News Regional Best Value College 2023
- #1 – US News Regional College 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012
- #1 – US News Regional Best College for Undergraduate Teaching 2021, 2019
- #1 – US News Regional Best College Freshman Retention Rate 2019
- #1 – Forbes best college in every state: Montana
- #1 – Money best college in every state: Montana
- #1 – College Factual best college in every state: Montana
- #1 – College Consensus top college or university in Montana
- #1 – Best Small Colleges for Jobs 2020: Montana
- #2 – US News Regional College 2023
- #2 – US News Regional Best Value College 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
- #2 – BestColleges.com Best Colleges in Montana
- #3 – US News Regional Best College for Veterans 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
- #8 – Top 25 Best Rocky Mountain Colleges in the US
- #11 – College Consensus Best Mountain Colleges
- #16 – US News Regional Best Social Mobility 2021
- #18 – Washington Monthly's Top Bachelor's Colleges in the Nation
- #33 – Great Affordable Colleges for Outdoor Enthusiasts
- Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll 2020, 2019, 2018
- College of Distinction, Overall, Montana, and Catholic (2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016−17, 2015-16, 2014-15)
- College Raptor Hidden Gem 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
- #1 Highest-Earning Salary for Graduates in Montana by Zippia Career Site 2018
- #1 Most Affordable College Town 2018
- Military Friendly School Bronze 2020-21
- Military Friendly Schools Designation 2019, 2018, 2017
- Top school in the Military Advanced Education Guide to Colleges & Universities 2018, 2017
Carroll College also received a commendation from the Montana Secretary of State Centennial Project for 100 Years of Business in Montana.
Student Accomplishments
Carroll computer science and mathematics teams have placed in the top 1% in the international Mathematical/Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling in 2003, 2006 and 2010, competing against schools such as MIT, Harvard, Duke, Beijing Jiaotong University, and Hangzhou Dianzi University.
The Carroll College Talking Saints have won or shared the Northwest Conference Championship for 33 straight years.
Carroll has ranked in the top 90th percentile for over ten years on the Educational Testing Service’s major field test in biology, a ranking that places our biology students in the top tier of over 13,000 college and university students nationwide.
Athletic Distinctions
The Carroll College football team has won 6 of the last 14 NAIA National Championships.
Carroll athletics have won 6 of the last 8 Frontier Conference Bandy Awards, presented annually in the spring to the conference school who has amassed the most points awarded based on league finish in each sport.
Carroll College has been acknowledged as an NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star Institution.
Alumni Accomplishments
Carroll pre-med students consistently post an 85% acceptance rate to medical and dental schools—far above the national average.
Chemistry majors boast a 100% acceptance rate to graduate schools, and they have participated in research and internships at the Mayo Clinic, Monsanto Company, and Purdue University.
Accreditation
Carroll College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an institutional accreditation body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and/or the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
The Business Department has a specialized accreditation through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
The Civil Engineering and Engineering Science programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.
Carroll’s Nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and is approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing.
Carroll's Teacher Education program is approved for licensure purposes by the State of Montana Board of Public Education and participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement of reciprocity with forty-five other states.