William Carey University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
William Carey University is a private research university in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, enrolling about 2,201 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 60.29% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $43,087 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $15,480
- 2024 Average Net Price: $14,258 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 60.29% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,201 86.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 59.78%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
- First-Generation Students: 35.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 20.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 57.3%
- Average SAT Score: 1122
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,062
- Applicants (IPEDS): 571
- Room & Board: $8,094 annual estimate
William Carey University: what the data shows
Common questions about William Carey University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is William Carey University?
William Carey University is located in Hattiesburg, MS (ZIP 39401).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is William Carey University public or private?
William Carey University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does William Carey University cost?
Published tuition: $15,480.
Average net price after aid: $14,258.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $12,224 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,411 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,320 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,436 |
| $110,001+ | $19,701 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $61,920.
How hard is it to get into William Carey University?
Admission rate: 60.29%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1122 and midpoint ACT 25.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is William Carey University?
Total enrollment: 2,201 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 4,062 students.
Graduate enrollment: 2,269 students.
About 86% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at William Carey University?
150%-time completion rate: 59.78%.
First-year retention: 77.9%.
What do graduates of William Carey University earn?
Median earnings: $37,639 six years after entry; $43,087 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $20,832.
27.11% of students receive Pell grants.
What is William Carey University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Elementary Education and Teaching (158 completions)
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy (152 completions)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General (126 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (120 completions)
- Secondary Education and Teaching (86 completions)
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities (58 completions)
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (52 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (46 completions)
- Pharmacy (40 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (38 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is William Carey University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 60.29%; completion rate 59.78%; median earnings $43,087 at 10 years; net price $14,258. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$15,480
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at William Carey University was $15,480.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$14,258
2024 Value
In 2024 William Carey University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,258.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$57,032 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$14,258 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$61,920 4-Year Tuition
$8,094 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$600 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$24,174 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$96,696 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for William Carey University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
27.11% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
24.86% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at William Carey University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for William Carey University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $10,800 | $10,800 | $15,487 |
| 2014 | $11,400 | $11,400 | $16,740 |
| 2015 | $11,700 | $11,700 | $16,557 |
| 2016 | $11,700 | $11,700 | $17,348 |
| 2017 | $12,300 | $12,300 | $17,954 |
| 2018 | $12,600 | $12,600 | $18,905 |
| 2019 | $12,750 | $12,750 | $13,000 |
| 2020 | $13,650 | $13,650 | $14,284 |
| 2021 | $14,100 | $14,100 | $10,886 |
| 2022 | $14,685 | $14,685 | $14,200 |
| 2023 | $14,685 | $14,685 | $17,052 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
60.29% Acceptance Rate
571 Total Applicants
331 Students Admitted
204 First-Time Students Enrolled
61.63% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1122
ACT Average: 25
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
William Carey University reported total enrollment of about 2,201 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 31% male and 69% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (56.0%), Black or African American (31.4%), and Non-Resident Alien (6.0%). About 27.11% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 35.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
86.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at William Carey University in 2024 is 2,201 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,062 students. Graduate enrollment is about 2,269 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
77.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 56.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
45.25% 100% Completion Time
59.78% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 45.25% of students graduating from William Carey University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 4% male / 96% female
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy: 58% male / 42% female
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 21% male / 79% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for William Carey University.
Return on Investment
$20,832 Median Student Debt
$43,087 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
48.35% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
655.49% Return on Investment
4.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for William Carey University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 52 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Elementary Education and Teaching: 158 completions
2. Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy: 152 completions
3. Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 126 completions
4. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 120 completions
5. Secondary Education and Teaching: 86 completions
6. Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities: 58 completions
7. Physical Education Teaching and Coaching: 52 completions
8. Business Administration and Management, General: 46 completions
9. Pharmacy: 40 completions
Most popular programs at William Carey University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for William Carey University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for William Carey University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 57.3%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,123
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $12,293
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
William Carey University is a private non-profit institution located in Hattiesburg, MS, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Elementary Education and Teaching, Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy, Educational Leadership and Administration, General. Enrollment is approximately 2,201 students. Student body composition includes White (56.0%), Black or African American (31.4%), Non-Resident Alien (6.0%). The admission rate is 60.29%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1122. The 150%-time completion rate is 59.78%. Approximately 27.11% of students receive Pell Grants. About 35.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
Location
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 52 distinct degree programs, William Carey University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is William Carey University located?
William Carey University is located in Hattiesburg, MS.
What is William Carey University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at William Carey University is 60.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 571 applicants and 331 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does William Carey University cost?
Reported tuition is $15,480 and average net price is $14,258 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,094 annually.
What is the student body demographics at William Carey University?
William Carey University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 4,062 students, White (56.0%), Black or African American (31.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend William Carey University?
About 35.9% of students at William Carey University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for William Carey University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, William Carey University reports midpoint SAT about 1122 and midpoint ACT about 25.
What do graduates of William Carey University earn?
Median earnings are $37,639 six years after entry and $43,087 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at William Carey University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 59.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do William Carey University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,832.
Is William Carey University public or private?
William Carey University is a private nonprofit institution located in Hattiesburg, MS.
Is William Carey University an HBCU?
No. William Carey University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is William Carey University a tribal college?
No. William Carey University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Mississippi college costs
- Mississippi colleges by ROI
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Mississippi
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.