William Carey University

William Carey University, affectionately known as Carey or WCU, is a distinguished private Christian university rooted in Mississippi. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, Carey upholds a faith-based educational philosophy while offering a comprehensive range of academic programs, including baccalaureate, Master's, and doctoral degrees. With its main campus nestled in Hattiesburg and a vibrant second campus in Biloxi's Tradition community, WCU serves a diverse student body committed to academic excellence and spiritual growth.

The university boasts a rich and resilient history, tracing its origins back to 1892 as the Pearl River Boarding School. Over the decades, it has evolved through several iterations, including South Mississippi College and the Mississippi Woman's College, where it famously became the only women's college ever to place third in the prestigious William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition in 1939. Renamed William Carey College in 1954 in honor of the "Father of Modern Missions," the institution embraced coeducation and ultimately achieved university status in 2006, overcoming challenges like devastating fires and Hurricane Katrina to emerge stronger.

Prospective students will find a robust academic environment at William Carey University, particularly within its highly regarded professional schools. The university is home to the College of Osteopathic Medicine, which welcomed its first class in 2010, and the accredited Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing. The Winters School of Music and Ministry Studies stands out as the first All-Steinway School in Mississippi, offering a distinguished music therapy program. Additionally, Carey pioneered an accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy program, completing the degree in just 2 years and 10 months, a unique offering as one of only 11 such programs nationwide and the sole one on the Gulf Coast. Since Fall 2025, the university has transitioned to a semester-based academic calendar, further enhancing the student learning experience.