William Carey University
A good fit for families looking for lower cost and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. a private nonprofit school with 2,201 students.
About This School
William Carey University is a private nonprofit institution located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi with approximately 2,201 undergraduate students enrolled. William Carey University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 60%. The average net price after financial aid is $14,258 per year. The graduation rate is 60%, and the typical graduate earns $40,500 within 10 years of enrollment.
William Carey University is a private Christian university in Mississippi, United States. The institution is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Mississippi Baptist Convention. The main campus is in Hattiesburg and a second campus is in the Tradition community north of Biloxi. The school gained official university status in 2006.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: while the $17,052 average net price and relatively low $15,796 median debt make this an affordable choice, the 41% graduation rate is a real concern — fewer than half of students who start here finish. If you're drawn to a small, faith-centered Southern Baptist community in Hattiesburg and have a clear academic plan, this could work, but incoming students should ask hard questions about academic support and what's driving that low completion rate.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 5% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
William Carey University graduates earn most above the national rate in Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($61,978 vs $51,389 nationally), and most below it in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($51,866 vs $68,257).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 149 | $82,147 | $88,910 | −$6,763 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 112 | $42,389 | $47,382 | −$4,993 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 47 | $47,152 | $54,562 | −$7,410 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 44 | $51,866 | $68,257 | −$16,391 |
| Biology, General | 42 | $46,598 | $57,214 | −$10,616 |
| Psychology, General | 32 | $38,325 | $50,706 | −$12,381 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 19 | $61,978 | $51,389 | +$10,589 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 10 | $51,430 | $55,378 | −$3,948 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,201 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Mississippi
Belhaven University
Jackson, MS · Private nonprofit
Mississippi College
Clinton, MS · Private nonprofit
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State, MS · Public
Delta Technical College-Mississippi
Horn Lake, MS · Private for-profit
Meridian Community College
Meridian, MS · Public
Delta State University
Cleveland, MS · Public
See How Colleges Compare
William Carey University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at William Carey University?
William Carey University has an acceptance rate of 60%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is William Carey University hard to get into?
William Carey University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 60%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does William Carey University cost?
The average net price at William Carey University is about $14,258 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at William Carey University?
William Carey University has a graduation rate of 60%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.