Head-to-head comparison
William Carey University vs Copiah-Lincoln Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Hattiesburg, MS
William Carey University
- Net price / year
- $14,258
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,087
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Wesson, MS
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
- Net price / year
- $3,894
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,241
- 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 $31,241 at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | William Carey University | Copiah-Lincoln Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,258 | $3,894 |
| Total net cost | $57,032 | $7,788 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,087 | $31,241 |
| Median debt | $20,832 | $7,435 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$162,492 | -$350,168 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, William Carey University or Copiah-Lincoln Community College?
Copiah-Lincoln Community College, at $3,894 a year after aid versus $14,258 — a gap of $10,364 a year, or $49,244 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 William Carey University or Copiah-Lincoln Community College graduates earn more?
William Carey University graduates report a median $43,087 ten years after entry, $11,846 more than the $31,241 at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. 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, William Carey University or Copiah-Lincoln Community College?
Copiah-Lincoln Community College: its completers carry a median $7,435 in federal loans versus $20,832 at William Carey University, a difference of $13,397. 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 50% at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. 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.