Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Carroll College

Carroll College's Health Sciences program sits right at Montana's median—which happens to be below national norms. Graduates earn $30,457 in their first year, about $5,000 less than the national median for this degree. While the program ranks in the 60th percentile statewide, Montana only has two schools offering this bachelor's, making that comparison less meaningful. The debt load of $25,250 is reasonable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83, but you're still paying near-national-average debt for below-average earnings.

The real challenge here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the data set—which makes these numbers less reliable predictors of what your student might experience. In allied health fields, specific career paths matter enormously. A graduate heading into healthcare administration will have different prospects than one in community health education. The 24th percentile national ranking suggests this program may not be channeling students toward the higher-paying specializations within allied health.

For families considering this program, understand you're paying private college prices (even with Carroll's relatively affordable tuition by private standards) for outcomes that trail the national field. Unless your student has compelling reasons to attend Carroll specifically—strong mentorship, a particular clinical partnership, or location-based career goals in Montana—exploring larger allied health programs with proven track records of higher earnings would be prudent.