Founded in 1929, Carlow University. is a Private college. Located in Pennsylvania, which is a city setting in Pennsylvania, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 1,408 full time undergraduate students, and 847 full time graduate students.
The Carlow University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 12:1. There are 97 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Carlow University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
86%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
0
SAT Range
870-1070
ACT Range
19-24
Admissions at are considered Less Selective, with ,8% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 27 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
0% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 0% were in the top quarter, and 0% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Carlow University.
0%
“We”re apathetic”
0%
“We know about current events and vote”
100%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
22%
“Sometimes, but not often”
44%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
33%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
20%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
80%
“I feel extremely safe”
30%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
60%
“We bought the gear”
10%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
30%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
60%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
10%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
30%
“They keep regular office hours”
70%
“They”re always available”
40%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
50%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
10%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
30%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
50%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
0%
“We only party on weekends”
20%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
30%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
50%
“There might be people who do”
10%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
10%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
0%
“We”re apathetic”
0%
“We know about current events and vote”
100%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
22%
“Sometimes, but not often”
44%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
33%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
20%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
80%
“I feel extremely safe”
30%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
60%
“We bought the gear”
10%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
30%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
60%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
10%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
30%
“They keep regular office hours”
70%
“They”re always available”
40%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
50%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
10%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
32 Students rated on-campus housing 3.5 stars. 19 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
26 Students rated off-campus housing 2.8 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
39 Students rated campus food 2.7 stars. 10 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
39 Students rated campus facilities 3.7 stars. 26 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
39 Students rated class size 4.4 stars. 54 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
39 Students rated school activities 2.9 stars. 21 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
39 Students rated local services 4.1 stars. 41 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
39 Students rated academics 3.7 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.
Carlow University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Carlow University?
16 Students rated Carlow University
Kennedy
College04/09/2025
Ever since I arrived at Carlow University, I’ve felt safe and welcomed. The people here are kind, and everyone treats you with genuine respect. During my first few classes, I was pleasantly surprised by how supportive the professors are. They’re always willing to help and offer so many opportunities to succeed. There’s free tutoring and plenty of academic support available.
Dr. Humphrey, our president, is truly inspiring and full of positive energy, I think everyone would agree. She gave us such a warm welcome, which speaks to why Carlow has such a close-knit, caring community. It creates a peaceful and comfortable environment that makes learning easier.
Even as a student living on campus, I still feel safe and at home. The campus life is a big part of why I’ve grown to love Carlow as much as I do.
Cassandra
07/06/2024
Carlow University is a magnificent school. It is inclusive and intersectional, teaching us principles that invite everyone to do and be their best. The classes are rigorous but easy enough to understand, and all the professors have been exceedingly helpful. There are a lot of programs, and most departments are very helpful. The state-of-the-art programs and technologies and Carlow University students will usually receive great job offers. My main problem is that if you are an adult out-of-state student whose GPA is not above 3.5 and who cannot qualify for a private student loan, it is unlikely that you will be able to attend this school. You may be unable to afford this school even with those qualifications. I would otherwise love this school if there were a reason to believe I could attend it. This was my dream school, but even with a Pell Grant, Student Loans, and one other grant, I see myself needing help to attend the school, which has heavily impacted my self-esteem. I wish they had more grant programs for those out of state and that I did not have to constantly seek scholarships that I will likely never get or a work-study, which will make life challenging as I am a disabled student. Financial aid has been extremely difficult to work with, and I feel like I may not receive a Carlow University education as a direct result.
Emily
06/15/2020
WORST SCHOOL EVER. They don't have electronic transcripts. It took FOREVER for me to get transcripts delaying my application to grad school. It is 2020 and they still have to mail transcripts. The nuns are stuck in the 1800s. Never go here, you will regret it.
Dalida
05/06/2020
Carlow University has an excellent academic program. The teachers are always accessible, and the class sizes are perfect because it allows students to focus and learn from a personal level. However, the food on campus is not edible, sometimes it is but most of the time students are not able to enjoy the foods. Also, Carlow University is not very diverse but this is something that the school is working on for the future. Overall, Carlow is an excellent school!
Hamadi
02/15/2020
I am thinking of attending Carlow University this fall and from everything I heard and seen about it I think it is somewhere I would like to stay and attend the next 4 years
Tayjanay
10/23/2019
Classes at Carlow University give students the opportunity to connect with professors and other students. Most of my classes are open for students to discuss topics of interest ( related to the course objectives), which makes class more interesting. Apart from the classroom, the campus does provide educational activities around campus that help students with skills such as writing. They also offer interventions such as depression, anxiety, and stress educational and informational pamphlets.The overall atmosphere of the campus is a bit bleak when it comes to activities outside of learning, but that just reaffirms this campus is more academically focused.
Morgan
07/17/2019
Went here for a year. Horrible food, horrible dorms, horrible student. Impossible to get extra help on anything that isn’t liberal arts. Offers tutors who tell you straight out they don’t know what they’re doing, but still get paid $10/hr. Rooms were filled with mildew and mold. Immediately transferred.
Shane
07/16/2019
Overall Carlow University is a very prestigious institute of higher learning. In my years there I have had some wonderful new experiences in my time there and overall have enjoyed the time spent. I would strongly recommend this University to anyone in the area looking for a way to brighten their future!
Marina
02/04/2019
Carlow University is perfect for those looking for small class sizes and a smaller university. It has the perfect location if you like city life, but is far enough away from the action that you aren't always having to be active. There are downsides of going to a small school, but with Pitt next door you can benefit off of their perks.
ricquel
12/23/2018
Carlow University is generous, from my experience, when it comes to Financial-aid. When it comes to academics, the university is lacking, because their are some teachers who are passionate about their jobs and then there are some teachers who are not.
Miranda
05/24/2018
The campus is beautiful, it is in the middle of the city so a lot of opportunities are provided to students, and that makes it an amazing place to learn. You are surrounded by culture and other like minded people, it's a fantastic place to start ones adult life, and begin their journey.
Haley
05/17/2018
It's great. The people you make friends with will become an extended family and the staff is there to support you in reaching your goals. The activites are a whole lot of fun and the facilities are really nice. The campus is beautiful, as some of the buildings are from the 1930s.
Chandra
03/20/2018
I think its a great college. It's surrounded by the hospitals which make it, even more, safer and easier for the medical students which are an advantage. The campus is a beautiful campus. The students there are really respectful and nice. The education there is really strong.
Tynisha
12/12/2017
I love the college. The environment, along with all the members make it a loving place to be. I feel like this is a second home, it's very safe and there is many places to go eat. We have a little strip with a Rue21 on the same street at McDonalds, my favorites.
Briana
05/22/2017
Carlow University, while a small school provides an excellent learning environment and a small, safe campus to learn on. Nearly all of the professors are friendly and always accessible. Carlow also has a large number of clubs that a student can participate in and is very inclusive overall.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Carlow University is 86%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.
Carlow University is a beautiful place of education that instills moral and spirtiual values in heach of their students heart, while acting as a safe and caring haven; attending to the needs of their entire sudent body.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The worst thing about Carlow University is the claim in the school's mission statement that they offer a diverse community. It portrays the idea that the school offers the opportunity to meet different people; people from diverse backgrounds. The school's mission statement boasts diversity, however there is very little diversity at the school, and even fewer males. I think this is the worst thing because the world is not filled with caucasian women. There are other cultures out there and I believe that the atmosphere at the university does little to teach students about that.
All of the faculty and staff are extremely helpful, no matter what the issue. If someone cannot answer a certain question, they refer you to someone who can. And across the board, everyone is so kind and obliging. Also, the campus and class sizes are relatively small compared to other universities. It is a plus because the teachers can give more individualized attention whenever necessary. All of my teachers know me by name, allowing me to feel very comfortable and important, rather than just a random face in a huge crowd of teenagers and students.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
The type of student to not attend this college is one who doesn't want to have personal attention toward them. Carlow pays attention to each student equally so if they want to not have to participate they should not attend this school.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
The most frustrating thing about Carlow would probably have to be the fact that the entire campus is basically on a hill. Therefore, no matter which building you are going to for class, you have to truck up a huge hill in order to get there. It get's very annoying in the winter too, when its cold and icy!
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
Carlow is in the heart of Oakland in Pittsburgh, but you would never know that it was there because of the size of it. When your on campus you feel as though your in a little town and when you step onto Fifth Ave. you know your in the big city; its the best of both worlds.
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
I wish I would have known how conservative the school is, how religious the school is, and how there are limited number of classes avaliable so it makes scheduling everything that is required very difficult.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
That Carlow is a well rounded school and that the teachers are great, we learn more than alot of the other colleges in the area for the same classes that we take. The school is a high quality well rounded school that anyone that gets into Carlow should be proud of. I can not wait until I can say I graduated from Carlow University.
Even though the major percentage of students are female, anyone can attend Carlow University. By that I mean anyone who is driven and dedicated to obtaining a good education. The classes and professors are wonderful, but challenging. Focus and determination are requisites for attending this school. But for this reason, it is a wonderful environment to learn in because the students are all very determined to work hard to gain and earn their education. Carlow University is the perfect school for anyone who greatly values their education and wants to ensure they receive the best.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
100% of students attending Carlow University receive some sort of financial aid.
53% were awarded federal grants.89%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.