William Carey University
Hattiesburg, MS · Private · Small city · WCU
Private institution in Hattiesburg, MS · 1,818 undergraduates · 58% acceptance rate · $43,087 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 23%Acceptance rate
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $17,052828th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $14,685929th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $14,685532nd cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $30,846969th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $20,832730th lowest of 1,865 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $43,0871,461st highest of 1,954 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $37,6391,369th highest of 1,950 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 40.8%1,483rd highest of 2,014 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 80.3%647th highest of 1,837 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 58.0%361st most selective of 1,596 reporting
- Average SAT
- 1120596th highest of 1,022 reporting
- Median ACT
- 25346th highest of 952 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 1,818992nd largest of 2,144 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 13.0:1979th smallest of 2,141 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 24.6%1,476th highest of 2,122 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 326 mi (ATL)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 31 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions | bachelors | $55,964 | $56,415 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation | bachelors | $33,325 | $33,993 |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $33,192 | $29,685 |
| Criminal Justice and CorrectionsHomeland Security & Law Enforcement | bachelors | $31,133 | $22,667 |
| Psychology, GeneralPsychology | bachelors | $25,525 | $20,726 |
| Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences | bachelors | $24,532 | $26,353 |
| Health and Physical Education/FitnessParks, Recreation & Fitness | bachelors | $24,325 | $24,325 |
| Communication and Media StudiesCommunications | bachelors | $21,052 | — |
| English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature | bachelors | $16,478 | $18,309 |
| Bible/Biblical StudiesTheology | bachelors | — | — |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherBusiness | bachelors | — | — |
| ChemistryPhysical Sciences | bachelors | — | — |
Campus facts
- Religious affiliation: Baptistsource
- Founded in 1906source
- School colors: Redsource
- Athletic nickname: "Crusaders"source
- Motto: ""Expect Great Things From God, Attempt Great Things For God""source
- Campus size: about 120 acressource
- Formerly known as "Pearl River Boarding School" (1892–1905)source
- Formerly known as "South Mississippi College" (1906–1911)source
- Formerly known as "Mississippi Woman's College" (1911–1954)source
- Formerly known as "William Carey College" (1954–2006)source
- Athletic conference: NAIAsource
Athletics — 13 sports
NAIA Division I · NAIA
Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $3,791,320 (M $2,071,257 · W $1,720,063)
- Archery
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field (Indoor)
- Track and Field (Outdoor)
- Volleyball
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.
Similar-size colleges
Nearest undergraduate enrollment to William Carey University’s 1,818 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.
In MS
- Delta State UniversityCleveland, MS · 1,613 undergrads
- Mississippi University for WomenColumbus, MS · 1,593 undergrads
- Belhaven UniversityJackson, MS · 1,370 undergrads
- Alcorn State UniversityAlcorn State, MS · 2,290 undergrads
- Mississippi Valley State UniversityItta Bena, MS · 1,326 undergrads
- Mississippi CollegeClinton, MS · 2,423 undergrads
Elsewhere
- Augustana UniversitySioux Falls, SD · 1,818 undergrads
- Benedictine UniversityLisle, IL · 1,817 undergrads
- Southwest University at El PasoEl Paso, TX · 1,817 undergrads
- Elizabethtown CollegeElizabethtown, PA · 1,815 undergrads
- Marywood UniversityScranton, PA · 1,821 undergrads
- Massachusetts College of Art and DesignBoston, MA · 1,812 undergrads
Key links
- Official websitewmcarey.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 176479)
- Compare colleges in MSRe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in MississippiEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Compare with Delta State UniversitySide by side on every Scorecard measure — closest in-state school by enrollment
- Showdown: William Carey University vs Delta State UniversityHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 13 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.