William Carey University — ROI, Cost & Payback
William Carey University charges a net price of $14,258/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $57,032. Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,087, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, William Carey University does not clear its cost — it ranks #7 of 32 Mississippi colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,258/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $57,032 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $43,087 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$5,273/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,832 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$162,492 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on William Carey University's own numbers. Net price $14,258 × 4 years = $57,032 total. Median earnings $43,087 fall $5,273 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $57,032 bill in about 5.7 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do William Carey University students graduate with?
A median $20,832 in federal loans among completers, or 48% of the $43,087 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of William Carey University students graduate?
60% finish their degree — 40% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $57,032 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $95,053 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is William Carey University expensive compared with other Mississippi colleges?
Its $14,258 net price runs $5,244 above the $9,015 median across the 32 Mississippi colleges we profile, or $20,974 more across the full degree.