Head-to-head comparison
Alcorn State University vs William Carey University: which has better ROI?
Option A Alcorn State, MS
Alcorn State University
- Net price / year
- $13,265
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,421
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Hattiesburg, MS
William Carey University
- Net price / year
- $14,258
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,087
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but William Carey University comes closer — median earnings $43,087 against a $57,032 total, vs $36,421 at Alcorn State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alcorn State University | William Carey University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,265 | $14,258 |
| Total net cost | $53,060 | $57,032 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,421 | $43,087 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $20,832 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$291,840 | -$162,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Alcorn State University or William Carey University?
Alcorn State University, at $13,265 a year after aid versus $14,258 — a gap of $993 a year, or $3,972 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Alcorn State University or William Carey University graduates earn more?
William Carey University graduates report a median $43,087 ten years after entry, $6,666 more than the $36,421 at Alcorn State 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Alcorn State University or William Carey University?
William Carey University: its completers carry a median $20,832 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Alcorn State University, a difference of $6,168. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at William Carey University, against 57% at Alcorn State University. 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.