William Carey University

Hattiesburg, MS

private nonprofitgraduate

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Quick Facts

1,818

Total Students

$15K

Tuition (In-State)

$15K

Tuition (Out-State)

$17K

Avg Net Price

58%

Acceptance Rate

41%

Graduation Rate

6-year

80%

Retention Rate

Doctoral/Professional Universities

Classification

Data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) & U.S. Dept. of Education

About William Carey University

Rooted in faith, William Carey University empowers students for service and success across its vibrant Mississippi campuses.

William Carey University, a private Christian institution in Mississippi, is dedicated to empowering students through its strong affiliation with the Southern and Mississippi Baptist Conventions. With its main campus nestled in Hattiesburg and a vibrant second campus in Biloxi, William Carey offers a comprehensive range of baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. Guided by the inspiring motto, "Expect Great Things From God, Attempt Great Things For God," the university cultivates an environment of academic excellence and spiritual growth.

The university's rich history began in 1892 as the Pearl River Boarding School, enduring challenges like devastating fires and evolving through several names, including South Mississippi College and Mississippi Woman's College. A pivotal moment arrived in 1954 when it transitioned to William Carey College, becoming coeducational and adopting its current namesake in honor of the renowned "Father of Modern Missions," William Carey. Notably, in 1939, as Mississippi Woman's College, it secured third place in the prestigious William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, a distinction no other women's college has achieved.

William Carey University is recognized for its robust academic offerings, particularly within its specialized professional schools. It is home to a distinguished College of Osteopathic Medicine, a fully accredited Winters School of Music (the first All-Steinway School in Mississippi), the Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing, and a School of Pharmacy known for its unique accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy program—one of only eleven nationwide. The university has also adapted its academic calendar, recently transitioning to a semester system, further enhancing the student learning experience across diverse disciplines.

The university's journey has been marked by resilience, from overcoming multiple fires in its early years to rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina impacted its Gulf Coast presence and an EF3 tornado severely damaged its Hattiesburg campus in 2017. Despite adversity, William Carey has expanded, notably with the opening of its Tradition Campus in Biloxi in 2009. These twin campuses foster a close-knit community where students are encouraged to pursue their callings, supported by a committed faculty and a vibrant campus life that reflects its Christian mission.

Key Highlights

✦Established in 1892, it officially became William Carey University in 2006, celebrating over a century of educational excellence.
✦Guided by the inspiring motto: "Expect Great Things From God, Attempt Great Things For God."
✦Offers a wide array of baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees across diverse fields.
✦Home to Mississippi's first All-Steinway School within its Winters School of Music, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
✦Features a College of Osteopathic Medicine, which welcomed its inaugural class of 110 students in 2010.
✦The School of Pharmacy boasts one of only 11 accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy programs in the nation, completing the degree in 2 years and 10 months.
✦Former iteration, Mississippi Woman's College, notably placed third in the 1939 William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, a unique achievement for a women's college.

Timeline

1892

Founded as Pearl River Boarding School in Poplarville, Mississippi.

1906

Reopened in Hattiesburg as South Mississippi College after a fire destroyed the original school.

1911

Reopened as Mississippi Woman's College after another fire and property acquisition by W. S. F. Tatum.

1939

Mississippi Woman's College placed third in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition.

1954

Became coeducational and renamed William Carey College, honoring William Carey.

2006

Celebrated its centennial and transitioned from William Carey College to William Carey University.

2009

The William Carey University-Tradition Campus opened in Biloxi, Mississippi.

2009

The College of Osteopathic Medicine opened (welcomed first class in 2010).

2017

The College of Osteopathic Medicine and nearly every campus building were severely damaged by an EF3 tornado.

2018

The School of Pharmacy matriculated its inaugural class, and the Winters School of Music became the first All-Steinway School in Mississippi.

Schools & Colleges

4 notable schools within William Carey University

🏥

College of Osteopathic Medicine

Opened in 2009 and welcomed its first class of 110 students in 2010, offering doctoral degrees.

🏫

Winters School of Music and Ministry Studies

An accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, with a music therapy program accredited by the American Music Therapy Association, and recognized as the first All-Steinway School in Mississippi.

💉

Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by both the Institutions of Higher Learning of the State of Mississippi and the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.

💊

School of Pharmacy

Matriculated its inaugural class in July 2018 and offers an accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy program, lasting 2 years and 10 months, making it one of only 11 such programs in the nation.

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