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William Carey University

Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39401

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Health sciencesTight-knitUrban

Known for health sciences — excellent value

William Carey University is a private urban institution in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, with an average SAT of 1120.

A small campus of 1.8K undergraduates with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

41% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $43,087 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $17,052.

Established
1892
Motto
"Expect Great Things From God, Attempt Great Things For God"
Type
Private university
Conference
National Association of

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58%Acceptance
1120SAT Avg
1,818Students
13:1Student:Faculty
41%Grad Rate
$43,087Earnings 10yr
$17,052Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate58.0%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1120

Reading & WritingMid: 605
460620
MathMid: 545
420580

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 25
2027

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$14,685
Room & Board$7,599
Books & Supplies$1,899
Total Cost of Attendance$30,846
Average Net Price$17,052
Median Debt at Graduation$20,832
Monthly Payment (10yr)$221

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$15,423
$30–48K$16,219
$48–75K$15,717
$75–110K$18,865
$110K+$19,800

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

75.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.9%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$15,796

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

14

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

4

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

4

Drug Arrests

3

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (60)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

80%

Mixed

Student Body

Undergrads
1,818
Gender Split
67% / 33%
Women / Men
First Generation
36%
Pell Grant Recipients
25%

Race & Ethnicity

White 60%
Black 28%
Hispanic 2%
Asian 1%
Int'l 6%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate40.8%
Freshman Retention80.3%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$37,639
10 Years$43,087

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Crusaders

Soccer 2020Indoor track

History & Fun Facts

  • History William Carey University was founded by W.
  • Thames in 1892 as Pearl River Boarding School in Poplarville, Mississippi.
  • A disastrous fire destroyed the school in 1905, and in 1906, with the backing of a group of New Orleans businessmen, Thames reopened the school in Hattiesburg as South Mississippi College.
  • In 1953, the Mississippi Baptist Convention voted to make the college coeducational, which necessitated a new name.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

91Average

Estimated from MS state average + city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 0"Sunny days: 240Rainy days: 85

Nearest Cities

New Orleanspop. 380K
104 mi(180 min)
Atlantapop. 500K
332 mi(575 min)
Nashvillepop. 690K
365 mi(633 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MSY New Orleans107 mi
BHM Birmingham215 mi
MEM Memphis261 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1260 mi · ~36h 24m drive
New York, NY1071 mi · ~30h 56m drive
Hartford, CT1168 mi · ~33h 45m drive
Providence, RI1226 mi · ~35h 25m drive
Albany, NY1158 mi · ~33h 27m drive
Syracuse, NY1084 mi · ~31h 19m drive
Rochester, NY1039 mi · ~30h 1m drive
Buffalo, NY983 mi · ~28h 24m drive
Philadelphia, PA991 mi · ~28h 38m drive
Pittsburgh, PA817 mi · ~23h 36m drive
Harrisburg, PA930 mi · ~26h 52m drive
Newark, NJ1064 mi · ~30h 44m drive
Washington, DC868 mi · ~25h 5m drive
Baltimore, MD902 mi · ~26h 3m drive
Atlanta, GA332 mi · ~9h 35m drive
Charlotte, NC558 mi · ~16h 7m drive
Raleigh, NC686 mi · ~19h 49m drive
Miami, FL672 mi · ~19h 25m drive
Orlando, FL511 mi · ~14h 46m drive
Tampa, FL471 mi · ~13h 36m drive
Nashville, TN365 mi · ~10h 33m drive
New Orleans, LA104 mi · ~3h drive
Richmond, VA800 mi · ~23h 7m drive
Chicago, IL736 mi · ~21h 16m drive
Detroit, MI836 mi · ~24h 9m drive
Minneapolis, MN969 mi · ~28h drive
St. Louis, MO508 mi · ~14h 41m drive
Kansas City, MO615 mi · ~17h 46m drive
Indianapolis, IN611 mi · ~17h 39m drive
Columbus, OH694 mi · ~20h 3m drive
Cleveland, OH821 mi · ~23h 43m drive
Milwaukee, WI814 mi · ~23h 31m drive
Dallas, TX451 mi · ~13h 2m drive
Houston, TX377 mi · ~10h 53m drive
Austin, TX507 mi · ~14h 39m drive
San Antonio, TX564 mi · ~16h 18m drive
Los Angeles, CA1689 mi · ~48h 48m drive
San Francisco, CA1927 mi · ~55h 40m drive
San Diego, CA1631 mi · ~47h 7m drive
Seattle, WA2068 mi · ~59h 45m drive
Portland, OR2036 mi · ~58h 49m drive
Denver, CO1055 mi · ~30h 29m drive
Phoenix, AZ1335 mi · ~38h 34m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1416 mi · ~40h 54m drive
Honolulu, HI4238 mi · ~122h 26m drive
Deep South / Subtropical (warm winters, hot summers)

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