Charleston Southern vs William Carey University
Charleston Southern University and William Carey University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Charleston Southern, a private Christian university in Charleston, South Carolina, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a higher graduation rate compared to William Carey, a private Christian university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. While Charleston Southern's student body is predominantly White, William Carey's student body is more diverse, with a significant proportion of African American students. Both universities offer a range of popular majors, including Business, Education, and Nursing, but Charleston Southern has a stronger focus on liberal arts and sciences, while William Carey emphasizes career-oriented programs. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Charleston Southern University |
![]() William Carey University |
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Overview |
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Location | Charleston, South Carolina | Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Trimester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 68.0% | 87.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Baptist | Baptist |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 57.2% | 57.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$40
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SAT range | 990 - 1200 | 980 - 1320 |
ACT range | 18 - 23 | 21 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 50.0% | 4.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | 96.0% |
Total number of applicants | 3,940 | 470 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,254 | 270 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 690 | 153 |
Yield rate | 30.6% | 56.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $42,500 | $25,393 |
Average net price | $18,182 | $11,676 |
Tuition | $28,630 | $13,050 |
Room & board | $11,032 |
Room/dormitory:
$3,450
Meal plan:
$3,300
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $22,425 |
100.0%
Average amount $12,216 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
56.0%
Average amount $5,238 |
25.0%
Average amount $4,583 |
Students taking out private loans |
12.0%
Average amount $10,921 |
4.0%
Average amount $12,749 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,725
Men 35.6% Women 64.4% |
3,337
Men 32.8% Women 67.2% |
Graduate students |
616
Men 36.7% Women 63.3% |
2,401
Men 31.7% Women 68.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 23.5% | 20.3% |
International students | 2.3% | 3.2% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 1,424 | 789 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | South Carolina North Carolina Georgia Florida Pennsylvania | Mississippi Louisiana Alabama Arizona Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 49.3% | 60.3% |
Dropout rate | 49.7% | 39.7% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Research and Experimental Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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