Mississippi State vs. William Carey University

Should I go to Mississippi State University or William Carey University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mississippi State or William Carey University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Mississippi State University vs. William Carey University comparison
Mississippi State University William Carey University College 3 College 4
Mississippi State University William Carey University
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Overview

Mississippi State William Carey University
Location Mississippi State, MS Hattiesburg, MS
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 22,657 5,448
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #452 #480
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msstate.edu wmcarey.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mississippi State William Carey University
Tuition (In State) $9,665 $13,500
Tuition (Out of State) $26,430 $13,500
Room & Board $12,293 $7,599
Avg Net Price $16,480 $17,192
Avg Grant Aid $13,532 $13,564
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 98%

Admission

Mississippi State William Carey University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,877 571
Admitted 15,934 331
Acceptance Rate 76.3% 58%
Enrolled % 23.5% 61.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.46
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29 20/27
SAT Range 1110/1410 880/1200
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Mississippi State William Carey University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Psychology (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Business (10%)

Outcomes

Mississippi State William Carey University
Graduation Rate 60% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,500 $40,900
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $20,192
Median Loan Payment $240 $208

Diversity

Mississippi State William Carey University
% Men 9% 14%
% Women 11% 29%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 60%
% Black 20% 31%
% Hispanic 2% 2%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Mississippi State William Carey University
% In-State 55% 70%
% Out-of-State 43% 21%

Campus

Mississippi State William Carey University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Mississippi State University is larger than than William Carey University based on total student enrollment (22,657 students vs. 5,448 students)

Mississippi State vs. William Carey University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mississippi State or William Carey University?

  • William Carey University is 39.7% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($13,500.00 vs. $9,665.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 95.8% higher at Mississippi State than William Carey University ($26,430.00 vs. $13,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than William Carey University ($16,480 vs. $17,192)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Carey University are 61.8% lower than costs at Mississippi State University ($7,599 vs. $12,293)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at William Carey University than Mississippi State University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Carey University students is 0.2% larger than aid received Mississippi State University ($13,564 vs. $13,532)

Mississippi State vs. William Carey University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mississippi State or William Carey University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between William Carey University or Mississippi State .

  • The average SAT score at Mississippi State University (1140) is 69 points higher than at William Carey University (1071)
  • Incoming Mississippi State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at William Carey University (24)
  • Accepted freshman Mississippi State students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at William Carey University (3.46)
  • Mississippi State has a higher acceptance rate (76.3%) than William Carey University (58%)

Mississippi State vs. William Carey University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mississippi State or William Carey University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between William Carey University and Mississippi State.

  • The graduation rate at Mississippi State is higher than William Carey University (60% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Mississippi State University earn on average $6,600 more per year than William Carey University graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $40,900)
  • William Carey University students graduate with a $3,058 lower median federal student loan debt than Mississippi State graduates. ($20,192 vs. $23,250)
  • William Carey University graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Mississippi State graduates. ($208 vs. $240)
  • More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Carey University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/