Carey sees enrollment increase for fall trimester

Slow and steady wins the race, and that old adage seems true at William Carey University, where enrollment has increased steadily over the past five years.

During the fall 2010 trimester, the university had just more than 3,600 students enrolled at its Hattiesburg and Tradition campuses. Fast-forward five years to the fall 2014 trimester, and Carey now has 4,145 students. The 2014 enrollment is about a 1½ percent increase over fall 2013 trimester when the university had 4,076 students.

“For fall 2014, William Carey University has 2,450 undergraduate students; 1,695 graduate students, including the 507 medical students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine for a total of 4,145 students,” explained Barbara Hamilton, executive assistant to President Tommy King.

Administrators attribute the steady growth to recruitment.

“While we continue an aggressive traditional recruitment program, our greatest growth comes from new programs,” Hamilton said. “Another factor is our generous scholarship program.”

Sophomore Adrienne Madden, 19, can attest to the university’s recruitment efforts and scholarship offerings. A 2013 Purvis High graduate, Madden said she initially had not considered William Carey because she had her mind on other state universities.

“I like to think God made me miss my ACT test because I overslept that Saturday morning I was to take it,” said Madden, a Carey Presidential Scholar. “As a result, I never got over that 30 bump on my composite ACT score and remained at 29.”

She said William Carey administrators came to her with a scholarship offer and the rest is history. Carey Presidential Scholars are academically-talented students with ACT scores of 29 or higher who receive full tuition, room, board, books, a laptop computer and more.

“It is an amazing university — family-oriented, Christ-centered campus,” said Madden, a biology/chemistry/pre-med major who plans to become a cardiologist. “The faculty goes above and beyond for the students. The students here also really care about each other. I know there have been days when I’ve felt discouraged and students I don’t even know have walked up and talked with me — giving me that little boost to feel better and be encouraged.”

To attract students, William Carey administrators say the university specializes in finding niches and offering programs to meet those needs.

“William Carey University does not seek to compete with other institutions but rather to provide a learning environment, which attracts students who are a good fit for us,” King said. “We also look for niches where needs are not being met and develop programs to meet those needs.”

With its Osteopathic School of Medicine, criminal justice program at the Tradition campus and recent announcements of a doctor of physical therapy program at the Hattiesburg campus in 2016 and possibly a pharmacy school on the Biloxi campus, administrators say the focus is on adding degree programs that lead directly to employment.

“Fields such as nursing, education and pre-professional are our greatest areas of growth,” Hamilton said. “At our Tradition campus in Biloxi, criminal justice is our strongest growth program.”

Most of William Carey students — 6 out of 10 — graduate as well. According to U.S. News and World Report, Carey’s actual graduation rate is 62 percent — compared to a predicted graduation rate of 44 percent.

“The predicted rate is based on number of first-generation students, percent of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and other such factors,” Hamilton said. “William Carey has the highest graduation rate of any Mississippi institution in the regional university rankings.”

Freshman Austin Speights, 18, said the high graduation rate, small classes and individualized instruction were the key reasons he selected William Carey.

“I had considered some other universities in Mississippi but I’m really glad I chose Carey,” said Speights, a 2014 Oak Grove High graduate. “I love it here, it’s a great place to be — you’re treated like a person, not a number, and I like the personalized approach that Carey has about higher education.”

He added his mother, Shelia Brown, also is a Carey grad and his sister, Alyson Speights, 20, is a junior at the university.

“I feel academically challenged at Carey, the university has standards that you must maintain so I know I am getting a top-rated education here,” said Speights, who is majoring in sports administration.

Sable Sanders, 18, of Wiggins, considers William Carey her dream school. An elementary education major with a minor in music, Sanders said she has attended several summer programs at Carey and feels right at home on the Hattiesburg campus.

“The education department has grown over the past several years and the university’s music program is absolutely phenomenal,” said the freshman, who was homeschooled and graduated in May. “I want to teach preschool through third grade and incorporate music and art in my students’ lessons.”

Freshman and graduate students make up the largest population on the William Carey campuses. The enrollment breakdown is 1,060 freshmen, 311 sophomores, 339 juniors, 740 seniors and 1,695 graduate students. The Tradition campus has 946 students, compared to the Hattiesburg’s campus 3,199.

By the numbers

William Carey University has experienced a slow and steady increase in its enrollment numbers over the past five years. The university saw about a 1½ percent increase in enrollment for fall 2014 over fall 2013.

• Fall 2014: 4,145

• Fall 2013: 4,076

• Fall 2012: 4,016

• Fall 2011: 3,705

• Fall 2010: 3,639

Fall 2014 campus breakdown

• Hattiesburg: 3,199

• Tradition in Biloxi: 946

Source: William Carey University