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About Carlow University

Transformational Educational Opportunities

Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located at the hub of Pittsburgh’s most cutting-edge industries. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1929, Carlow’s curricula and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to forward-thinking leadership and impactful service to the community.   

Offering small on-campus classes, flexible online programs, and generous financial aid, Carlow University’s transformative brand of education prepares students to lead ethically in their chosen profession. Every day, Carlow graduates are helping to create a more just and merciful world. 

“Carlow University is committed to the intellectual growth, personal development and professional success of its students. Carlow not only seeks to educate its students – to teach them new skills, new methods and new ways of thinking about the world – but also to cultivate in them a lifelong love of learning. Carlow students are encouraged to embrace the University’s central values of Mercy, hospitality, service, discovery and the respect for all of creation.”

–Howard A. Stern, PhD
Professor & MBA Program Chair

Why Choose Carlow University?

Carlow believes in education and growth inside and outside of the classroom. We encourage you to develop skills in judgment, leadership, analysis, decision-making and communication. The transformational learning experiences and diverse community at Carlow help you realize your full potential while becoming a career-ready, compassionate professional. 

Fully invested faculty work with you to help achieve success and maintain a balance between work and school responsibilities. The online experience at Carlow is one of inclusion, flexibility and understanding.  

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Accreditation

Our institution is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Our nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Our social work programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Our online business programs have been awarded the status of Candidate for Accreditation by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).

Recognition

Fast Facts

  • Founded in 1929 by the Sisters of Mercy
  • A private, nonprofit university
  • A proud Yellow Ribbon School
  • Multiple start dates each year
  • 100 percent online programs
  • Scholarship opportunities
  • Multiple corporate partnerships

Our Mission

At Carlow University, we strive to create an experience that is not only life-changing, but world-changing. Carlow graduates are prepared to be pioneers in workforce development, healthcare, education, business, the arts, and more. They are part of a nearly one-hundred-year tradition of ethical leaders with the empathy and spirit to create meaningful societal change. Rooted in unity and led by compassion, we are redefining what a leader looks like —and it looks like a Carlow graduate. 

Our Vision

Carlow University will be a preeminent, innovative, Catholic university renowned for providing transformational learning experiences in which students realize their full potential and become career-ready ethical leaders committed to a just and merciful world.

Our Values

The identifying value of Carlow University is Mercy, encompassing all that we are and do as a university. Our other values expand our understanding of the power of Mercy to change the world.

Mercy

We open our hearts to our students, our colleagues, and the wider world — meeting each person with compassion and care. 

Service

We place the needs of others before our own, using our talents to uplift, advocate, and make a meaningful difference. 

Sacredness of Creation

We honor the dignity of every person and the beauty of our world, committing ourselves to sustainability, justice, and reverence for life. 

Hospitality

We welcome the wholeness of every individual, fostering a community where all are seen, valued, and invited to belong. 

Discovery

We embrace curiosity and wonder — in education, in the human experience, and in the unfolding possibilities of our shared future. 

Our History

Carlow University traces its roots to 1843, when seven determined Sisters of Mercy boarded a ship in Ireland, carrying with them the twin values of academic excellence and compassionate service to others. 

Upon their arrival in Pittsburgh, in 1844, Our Lady of Mercy Academy was founded. This was the first private academy for girls in Pittsburgh, at St. Mary’s on Penn Street. For the next 180 years, the Sisters’ simple yet boundless mission touched countless lives, and continues to inspire our future leaders today. 

Key Dates

  • 1844: Our Lady of Mercy Academy is founded
  • 1894: The Academy moves to a French chateau on the present property at 3333 Fifth Avenue
  • 1929: Mount Mercy College (later Carlow University) is founded
  • 1969: Mount Mercy College becomes Carlow College
  • 2005: Carlow College first offers graduate-level studies, becoming Carlow University