Samford University vs. William Carey University

Should I go to Samford University or William Carey University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Samford University 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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Samford University vs. William Carey University comparison
Samford University William Carey University College 3 College 4
Samford University William Carey University
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Overview

Samford University William Carey University
Location Birmingham, AL Hattiesburg, MS
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 5,791 5,448
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #213 #480
Religious Affiliation Baptist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website samford.edu wmcarey.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Samford University William Carey University
Tuition (In State) $37,144 $13,500
Tuition (Out of State) $37,144 $13,500
Room & Board $12,160 $7,599
Avg Net Price $32,176 $17,192
Avg Grant Aid $21,758 $13,564
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Samford University William Carey University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,541 571
Admitted 3,734 331
Acceptance Rate 82.2% 58%
Enrolled % 28.9% 61.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.46
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 20/27
SAT Range 1070/1260 880/1200
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2026

Academics

Samford University William Carey University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Psychology (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Business (10%)

Outcomes

Samford University William Carey University
Graduation Rate 70% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,400 $40,900
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $20,192
Median Loan Payment $232 $208

Diversity

Samford University William Carey University
% Men 11% 14%
% Women 23% 29%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 81% 60%
% Black 7% 31%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Samford University William Carey University
% In-State 23% 70%
% Out-of-State 77% 21%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Samford University is larger than than William Carey University based on total student enrollment (5,791 students vs. 5,448 students)

Samford University vs. William Carey University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Samford University or William Carey University?

  • Samford University is 175.1% more expensive to attend than William Carey University for in-state tuition ($37,144.00 vs. $13,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 175.1% higher at Samford University than William Carey University ($37,144.00 vs. $13,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Carey University than Samford University ($17,192 vs. $32,176)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Carey University are 60% lower than costs at Samford University ($7,599 vs. $12,160)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Samford University than William Carey University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Samford University students is 60.4% larger than aid received William Carey University ($21,758 vs. $13,564)

Samford University vs. William Carey University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Samford University 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 Samford University .

  • The average SAT score at Samford University (1162) is 91 points higher than at William Carey University (1071)
  • Incoming Samford University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at William Carey University (24)
  • Accepted freshman Samford University students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at William Carey University (3.46)
  • Samford University has a higher acceptance rate (82.2%) than William Carey University (58%)

Samford University vs. William Carey University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Samford University 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 Samford University.

  • The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than William Carey University (70% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Samford University earn on average $16,500 more per year than William Carey University graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $40,900)
  • William Carey University students graduate with a $2,308 lower median federal student loan debt than Samford University graduates. ($20,192 vs. $22,500)
  • William Carey University graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Samford University graduates. ($208 vs. $232)
  • More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Carey University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 47%)

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