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William Carey University: William Carey University, Tradition Campus 2023
Photo: Woodlot, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

William Carey University

  • LocationHattiesburg, MS
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 5,448 students

Affiliation: Baptist

Official website

William Carey University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of William Carey University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.5 mi1 mi2 miHoly Rosary Catholic Church: 0.6 mi1Sacred Heart Catholic Church: 1.2 mi2William Carey University (campus)N0.5 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Holy Rosary Catholic Church — 0.6 mi · 900 Dabbs Street, Hattiesburg
  2. Sacred Heart Catholic Church — 1.2 mi · 313 Walnut Street, Hattiesburg

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

None recorded.

Concerns

  • The university's religious-life page describes a Baptist Student Union.
    Sources (1)
    1. Baptist Student Union | William Carey Universitywmcarey.edu/office/bsu/index.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We serve our university campus with weekly worship opportunities and outreach events.”
      The university's religious-life page describes a Baptist Student Union serving the campus with weekly worship and outreach.

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Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
66 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.60%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.78%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,122 · ACT 22
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.14 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$12,293

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
3,113
Total students5,448
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$14,258
Cost of attendance (per year)$29,651
Median federal debt at graduation$20,832
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
60%
First-year retention78%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$43,087
Admission rate60%
Students receiving Pell grants27%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1122
SAT reading & writing540–690
SAT math500–600
ACT composite19–25
Test policyRequired

Value index: 56 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Biloxi

The Most Reverend Louis Kihneman III, Bishop of Biloxi

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 176479
  • Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Baptist
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is William Carey University a Catholic college?
No. William Carey University is not a Catholic college. Its listed religious affiliation is Baptist. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead.

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