C+
Above Average
Score: 60/100
Overall (traditional)
C
Outcome Rating
45/100 · earnings-weighted

William Carey University

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39401
Outcomes
B
65/100
Affordability
C
47/100
Resources
B
67/100
Experience
B+
80/100
Prestige
C
45/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

5,448
Total Enrollment
41%
Graduation Rate
80%
Retention Rate
13.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
58%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at William Carey University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$43,087
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$37,639
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$20,832
Median debt at graduation
59.8%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,122
Average SAT
25
Median ACT
27.1%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 48% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 38th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MS wage index 0.68). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at William Carey University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$73,469$82,147-8%#641 of 966#156$20,832
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$52,790$61,978+21%#34 of 345#3$21,875
Business Administration, Management and Operations$40,598$51,866-24%#1052 of 1176#723$18,707
Criminal Justice and Corrections$35,540$51,430-7%#455 of 660#103$23,500
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$24,182$47,152-14%#491 of 610#228$18,806
Biology$19,910$46,598-19%#761 of 841#485$15,961
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$39,520$42,389-11%#591 of 680#261$19,687
Psychology$21,799$38,325-24%#995 of 1027#768$26,166

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The William Carey University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $145,492
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,071/mo — vs ~$383/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 39401 (5.7% cap, Hattiesburg)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where William Carey University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥈
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities
of 4 schools
🥈
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities
of 2 schools
#7
Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision
of 15 schools
#11
Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
of 36 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $13,500 $13,500
Room $3,450
Board $3,810
Total Cost (On-Campus) $31,068 $31,068

Financial Aid

98%
Receive Any Aid
33%
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Elementary Education and Teaching 158 grads/yr Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy 152 grads/yr Educational Leadership and Administration, General 126 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 120 grads/yr Secondary Education and Teaching 86 grads/yr Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities 58 grads/yr Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 52 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 46 grads/yr Pharmacy 40 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 38 grads/yr Psychology, General 31 grads/yr Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision 30 grads/yr Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities 29 grads/yr Music Teacher Education 28 grads/yr Health/Health Care Administration/Management 26 grads/yr General Studies 26 grads/yr Physical Therapy/Therapist 21 grads/yr Biomedical Sciences, General 20 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Police Science 16 grads/yr Nursing Education 13 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from William Carey University's top programs commonly pursue.

Education teachers, postsecondary
$72k/yr 74,900 jobs
Elementary school teachers, except special education
$62k/yr 1,422,700 jobs
Family medicine physicians
$238k/yr 116,000 jobs
General internal medicine physicians
$236k/yr 73,200 jobs
Pediatricians, general
$210k/yr 46,400 jobs
Anesthesiologists
45,300 jobs
Cardiologists
19,400 jobs
Dermatologists
10,900 jobs

Student Demographics

5,448
Total Students
65%
Women
69%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 60%
Hispanic 2%
Black 26%
Asian 5%
Non-Resident 5%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 49%
Hybrid (Some Online) 22%
Fully Online 29%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 69%
25-64 (Adult) 23%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at William Carey University?
William Carey University has an acceptance rate of 58%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend William Carey University?
Tuition at William Carey University is $13,500 for in-state students and $13,500 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at William Carey University?
The graduation rate at William Carey University is 41%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is William Carey University a good school?
William Carey University has a Repit College Score of 60/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend William Carey University?
William Carey University has a total enrollment of 5,448 students.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for William Carey University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to William Carey University

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

C+
Mississippi College
Clinton, MS · 4,087 students
C+
Belhaven University
Jackson, MS · 3,616 students
C+
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS · 13,110 students
B
University of Mississippi
University, MS · 24,043 students
C+
Mississippi Valley State University
Itta Bena, MS · 2,196 students
B
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State, MS · 2,894 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology