University of Southern Mississippi vs William Carey University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but William Carey University comes closer — median earnings $43,087 against a $57,032 total, vs $44,140 at University of Southern Mississippi. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Southern Mississippi | William Carey University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,708 | $14,258 |
| Total net cost | $86,832 | $57,032 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,140 | $43,087 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $20,832 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$171,232 | -$162,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Southern Mississippi or William Carey University?
William Carey University, at $14,258 a year after aid versus $21,708 — a gap of $7,450 a year, or $29,800 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Southern Mississippi or William Carey University graduates earn more?
University of Southern Mississippi graduates report a median $44,140 ten years after entry, $1,053 more than the $43,087 at William Carey University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Southern Mississippi or William Carey University?
William Carey University: its completers carry a median $20,832 in federal loans versus $22,500 at University of Southern Mississippi, a difference of $1,668. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at William Carey University, against 49% at University of Southern Mississippi. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.