William Carey University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It enrolls 2,201 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes58
Value62
Affordability56
Selectivity62
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 60.3%, William Carey University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
60.3%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1040 – 1290
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether William Carey University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
2.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending William Carey University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,258 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,258
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
25%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$15,480
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,094
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,094
Books & Supplies
$600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$7,455
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,455
Total Cost of Attendance
$29,651
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,224
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,411
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,320
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,436
Over $110,000
$19,701
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$7,36325%percentile
$20,832Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$34,29190%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,666
↓ $4,166
No Pell $13,935
↓ $6,897
Dependent students $14,000
↓ $6,832
Independent students $18,750
↓ $2,082
Female students $16,292
↓ $4,540
Male students $15,000
↓ $5,832
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,375, less than completers ($20,832), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
45% of full-time students who enrolled at William Carey University graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
45%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
79%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered William Carey University earn a median of $43,087 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,087
Earning > $25K
70%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,100, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↓
1.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 63% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
William Carey University is home to 2,201 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,201
Part-Time
14%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 56.0%1,233
Black 31.4%690
International 6.0%132
Hispanic 2.9%63
Asian 1.0%23
Other 0.5%10
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at William Carey University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityHattiesburg, Mississippi
Housing
Partly residential876 beds available
Adult Learners
23%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
William Carey University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
46 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at William Carey University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$202M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$54,905
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
204 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
37
18%
$67,153
Associate Professors
51
25%
$57,354
Assistant Professors
97
48%
$53,213
Instructors
18
9%
$41,495
Lecturers
1
0%
$38,408
Pros & Cons of William Carey University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how William Carey University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Frequently Asked Questions about William Carey University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about William Carey University.
Is William Carey University hard to get into?
Admissions at William Carey University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 60.3%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at William Carey University?
William Carey University has an acceptance rate of 60.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for William Carey University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at William Carey University scored between 1040 and 1290 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for William Carey University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at William Carey University scored between 19 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does William Carey University cost?
The average net price after aid at William Carey University is $14,258 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is William Carey University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,087 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,258 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is William Carey University known for?
William Carey University is best known for its programs in Teacher Education (K-12), Nursing, Educational Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do William Carey University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering William Carey University are $43,087, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is William Carey University accredited?
Yes. William Carey University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend William Carey University?
William Carey University enrolls 2,201 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at William Carey University?
William Carey University graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is William Carey University a public or private college?
William Carey University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is William Carey University located?
William Carey University is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
What programs does William Carey University offer?
William Carey University offers 46 distinct programs. The most popular include Teacher Education (K-12), Nursing, Educational Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at William Carey University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at William Carey University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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