William Carey raises scholarship amounts 40 percent

William Carey University announced a major restructuring of its academic scholarship program during a press conference Sept. 9 at Tatum Court. The change will mean an average increase of 40 percent in scholarship amounts awarded to freshmen, transfer, and international students. 

This initiative was among Dr. Ben Burnett’s first priorities in August as he assumed a new role as the university’s president. 

“While Carey remains very competitive with other institutions in Mississippi, and in most cases less expensive, we felt our scholarship structure was outdated and needed to be revised to reflect the needs of our students today,” Burnett said. 

“We want all students to have the option of choosing a Christian higher education as they prepare to answer God’s call in their life. Hopefully, this scholarship change will make that possible for many more students in the future.” 

WCU’s academic scholarships are ranked in four tiers and awarded based on factors like scores on ACT and SAT tests for freshmen, college grade point average for transfer students and whether the student lives on-campus or off-campus. Under the new structure, scholarships will range from $5,100 to $9,300 per year for students who live on campus, and $2,700 to $6,600 for commuters. 

The new program takes effect in fall 2023. It also includes Church-Related Vocation scholarships for ministerial students – increasing those awards to $9,000 for on-campus students and $6,300 for commuters. 

“One of the things I’ve learned talking to prospective students and families is that people assume William Carey’s tuition is high because it’s a private university. That’s never been the case. We kept tuition low – but now, we’ve raised our scholarships to unprecedented amounts. Students can absolutely afford to pursue their educational dreams at William Carey,” said Dr. Brett Golson, dean of the Cooper School of Missions and Ministry. 

Rana Abozeed, president of the WCU Student Government Association, spoke on behalf of the student body. 

“I would like to thank our administration for the generosity and hard work they put into making a college education affordable. This will be of tremendous help for students to pursue their college education, finish off strong and get their degrees, and fully prepare them to be successful. We are incredibly thankful for our administration and the care and support they have for students,” Abozeed said. 

Admissions Director Meagan Smith said recruiters can’t wait to spread the good news: “They are excited to make William Carey even more accessible to students. It’s going to be fun to see their eyes light up at the new possibilities before them.” 

For more information, contact the WCU Office of Admissions: 

— Hattiesburg campus, (601) 318-6103 or admissions@wmcarey.edu — Tradition campus, (228) 702-1815 or admissions-tradition@wmcarey.edu