William Carey University

WCU offers both online and on-site degrees. While most students study in person on the school's campus in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) shows that 24-34% of students are enrolled in at least some distance education. Online students have several program options to choose from in the fields of health science, education, business, and nursing. These programs are flexible and students can complete them in Mississippi, out-of-state, or in another country. 

The best way to determine whether WCU is legitimate is to check its accreditation status. All schools featured on OnlineU are accredited because we aim to provide rankings lists that students can trust. An accredited school has high quality programs and instructors based on national benchmarks. WCU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctorate degrees, and certificates. 

WCU is best known for its programs in the field of health science. Within the College of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, and School of Pharmacy, there are dozens of degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctorate levels, some of which can even be taken 100% online. For example, nursing and health administration degrees are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels, allowing students to earn both degrees entirely online. 

WCU is a Christian institution with a Baptist heritage. This means on a practical level that faith is integrated into its educational offerings, including its curriculum, faculty, and overall mission. The core curriculum for all bachelor's degrees requires students to take six credits of Bible study. WCU also features a Baptist Student Union, international mission trips, and an Office of Church Development and Christian Relations.

The highest earning degrees at WCU are in the area of nursing, according to College Scorecard Three years after graduation, students can expect to earn a median annual salary of approximately $54,800. As mentioned, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is available online. Keep in mind, prospective students must have completed a related associate degree or another nursing program before applying. 

Teacher education is the second highest earning degree field, where the expected median annual salary is around $34,300. WCU offers two related degrees for distance learners: a Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. 

Another helpful metric for determining potential earnings is OnlineU's proprietary Salary Score. This is a comparison of alumni earnings from different schools across the same degree programs. On a scale of 1-100, WCU's scores are 27 for bachelor's graduates, 17 for master's graduates, and 10 for doctoral graduates. 

College Scorecard data shows that WCU's acceptance rate is 55%, meaning that just over half of all applicants are accepted into one of its programs. Since the average acceptance rate for all colleges and universities in the country is around 60%, this makes WCU slightly harder to get into compared to other schools.

Applying to college doesn't have to be a complicated process. This checklist will help online students understand the steps needed to apply to WCU, including the required documentation and test scores: 

• Fill out an online application and include personal information and education history.
• Submit ACT or SAT scores. 
• Pay the $40 non-refundable application fee.  
• Submit all required documents. 

Once the application is submitted, an email will be sent outlining which documents are needed. This may include high school transcripts, GED transcripts, college transcripts, or AP course transcripts. International students will have to meet slightly different requirements to apply. All students must have achieved at least a 3.0 GPA to be considered.