Overview
Enrollment
Best Colleges Rank
| Location | Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
| Online | wmcarey.edu |
| School Type | Private 4 Year |
| Setting | Small City |
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist |
| Size | Mid-size |
| Status | Non-profit |
| On Campus Housing | Yes |
| Level of Study | Undergrad/Graduate |
William Carey University is a private Baptist institution located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, approximately 70 miles north of the Gulf Coast and 90 miles southeast of Jackson. The campus, situated on 140 acres, features a mixture of modern and traditional buildings, including facilities rebuilt after a 2017 tornado that affected portions of the campus. Founded in 1892 as Pearl River Ripples College before relocating to Hattiesburg in 1911, the university maintains its historical connection to the Mississippi Baptist Convention while operating as an open-enrollment institution. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs with particular strengths in nursing, education, and osteopathic medicine through its College of Osteopathic Medicine established in 2010. Traditional undergraduate students are required to live in on-campus residence halls unless they meet specific exemption criteria, and the university competes in the NAIA Southern States Athletic Conference.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
William Carey University is rated within the top 45% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 6 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for William Carey University within the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#480 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#336 in Best Private Colleges in the U.S.
#3 in Best Colleges in Mississippi
#1 in Best Private Colleges in Mississippi
#204 in Best Value Colleges in the U.S.
#3 in Best Value Colleges in Mississippi
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 880/1200 |
| ACT | 20/27 |
| Estimated GPA | 3.46 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | - |
| Applicant Competition | Average |
| Application Fee | $40 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,899 |
| Other Fees | $1,185 |
| Room and Board | $7,599 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $6,885 |
| Total One Year Cost | $31,068 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Health Professions | 24% |
| Education | 17% |
| Psychology | 16% |
| Liberal Arts and Humanities | 13% |
| Business | 10% |
Other Colleges to Consider
Students considering William Carey University are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=176479 IPEDS survey data for William Carey University.
Current students may use the William Carey University GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2025