William Carey University
#1 Best Education Colleges in Mississippi- Graduation Rate
- 51% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,087 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $14,258 C+
- 17% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 60% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 17.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.7 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in Mississippi.
Every $1 spent returns $17.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $953,269.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Social mobility rate of 2.04% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $17.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why William Carey University Matters
William Carey University is a private doctoral / professional university in Hattiesburg, MS and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 2,201
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 54
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology
Why students choose William Carey University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 60% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1040–1290. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,258 a year after grants and scholarships — 17% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,087 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $20,832 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 27% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.22 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
William Carey University serves around 2,200 students, making it a fitting choice for those seeking a more personal college experience. With a 60% acceptance rate, it welcomes a diverse range of students, particularly those interested in fields like Education, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing, and Psychology. The focus on these programs reflects a commitment to practical, career-oriented education that aligns well with current job markets.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $43,087 within ten years. This figure is a solid indicator of the potential return on investment for a degree here. While the graduation rate sits at 51%, many students find pathways to success, particularly in the health and education sectors. The school’s affordability is also a strong point, making it accessible for many.
In terms of the financial landscape, the net price for students after aid is about $14,258, which is manageable when considering the median debt of $20,832. This suggests that graduates leave with a reasonable debt load relative to their earnings. Those who tend to thrive here are often those who appreciate a supportive community and are focused on practical career paths, particularly in the essential fields of health and education.
Rankings
- #1 Best Education Colleges in Mississippi
- #2 Best Nursing Colleges in Mississippi
- #4 Best Bachelor's Programs in Mississippi
- #4 Best Master's Programs in Mississippi
- #4 Best Biology Colleges in Mississippi
- #5 Best Psychology Colleges in Mississippi
- #6 Best Colleges in Mississippi
- #6 Best Online Colleges in Mississippi
Can I Get In?
How selective William Carey University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into William Carey University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, William Carey University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,122. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 60%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- SAT Average
- 1122
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 1040–1290
- ACT Range
- 19–25
- Full-Time Faculty
- 57%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,123
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
- Applicants
- 517
- Admitted
- 277
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend William Carey University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at William Carey University is $15,480, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,258. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,224 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,832 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $15,480
- Out-of-State
- $15,480
- Avg Net Price
- $14,258
- Median Debt
- $20,832
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 25%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,224
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,411
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,320
- Family Income $110K+
- $19,701
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at William Carey University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is William Carey University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of William Carey University report median earnings of $43,087, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,639
- 8 Years
- $41,079
- 10 Years
- $43,087
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.48x
- Earning > $25K
- 59%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (79)
- 35%
- 100% (79)
- 35%
- 100% (79)
- 35%
- 100% (79)
- 35%
How William Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is William Carey University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, William Carey University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,258/year ($57,032 total). Graduates earn $43,087 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,010,301 in total earnings — a net gain of $953,269 (17.7× your investment). The median debt is $20,832, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 51% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $57,032
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,010,301
- Net Return
- $953,269
- ROI Multiple
- 17.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,258
- Median Debt
- $20,832
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 51%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does William Carey University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
William Carey University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.04%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.04%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 15.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $90,350
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $7,939,902
- Investment Income
- $-4,650,010
Top Programs
The fields William Carey University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Education 32% $43,507 early-career
- Health Professions 28% $67,032 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 9% $31,312 early-career
- Psychology 7% $24,626 early-career
- Business & Marketing 7% $35,271 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Mathematics & Statistics 2%
- Social Sciences 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for William Carey University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into William Carey University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, William Carey University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,122. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend William Carey University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at William Carey University is $15,480, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,258. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,224 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,832 in federal student loans.
Is William Carey University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of William Carey University report median earnings of $43,087, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does William Carey University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
William Carey University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.04%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is William Carey University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at William Carey University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to William Carey University.
- University of Hawaii at HiloHilo, HI · Close peer45% grad $47,856 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of MontevalloMontevallo, AL · Close peer52% grad $42,957 earn 54% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, AR · Close peer48% grad $42,386 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMarshall, MN · Close peer45% grad $51,342 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Minot State UniversityMinot, ND · Close peer46% grad $51,759 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Texas A&M University-TexarkanaTexarkana, TX · Close peer30% grad $45,515 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is William Carey University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at William Carey University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note