Jul 04, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Admission Policies and Procedures

Application for Admission

William Carey University accepts applications for admission year-round. United States citizens and those with a valid/unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) may apply here. International students may apply here. Before applying, please review the university’s admission standards and policies in this section.

Intentionally giving false information, whether written or oral, to university officials is not permitted. The falsification, alteration, fabrication, omission, or misuse of a form, document, or record provided to the university is prohibited and can lead to rejection, expulsion, or dismissal.

There are additional requirements and a separate admission process for the School of Nursing and for Teacher Education Programs. Students interested in these programs should consult program requirements outlined elsewhere in this catalog.

William Carey University reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant and to forbid any student’s continued enrollment without assigning a reason.

Admission Standards and Policies

All full-time undergraduate students on the Hattiesburg campus are required to live on campus and participate in a university meal plan unless they meet one of the following criteria: age 21, commute from home of parents (50-mile radius), are married, or have children. Residence hall students who turn 21 by the start of the term in which they wish to live off campus, have senior classification, and are in good standing with the university may apply to live off campus. Housing is not provided on the Tradition campus. Upon notification of admission, students who must live on campus should submit a housing application and prepayment. The housing application, policies, and procedures can be found on the Residence Life & Housing web page.

First-Time Freshman Student Admission

A first-time freshman applicant is a student who has either a final high school or homeschool transcript; official GED report with passing scores or official HiSET report with passing scores; and less than 12 college credit hours after the high school diploma, GED, or HiSET test scores have been earned.

A completed student file contains the following:

A submitted application for admission. (Apply Here)
One of the following:
1. An official high school transcript with
  1. a graduation date that occurred before the transcript arrived at WCU
  2. a 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
2. An accredited or notarized home school credit transcript
  1. a graduation date that occurred before the transcript arrived at WCU
  2. a 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
3. An official GED score report recording eligible scores
  1. GED eligible scores: minimum score of 150 on each of the four content areas or a minimum total score of 600
4. An official HiSET score report recording eligible scores
  1. HiSET eligible scores: minimum score of 15 on all four content areas
  2. essay score is not measured for admission
Submit nonrefundable application fee.
Documented proof of two immunizations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) if born on or after January 1, 1957.
One of the following:
1. National American College Test (ACT) official score report recording eligible scores.
  1. General admittance scores: 20 or above
  2. Conditional admittance scores: 17-19
  3. Free Throw admittance scores: 16-19
  4. WCU accepts ACT superscores for general and conditional admittance. Free Throw admittance requires a minimum single test score of 16.
2. Residual American College Test (ACT) official report recording eligible scores.
  1. Offered by and administered at WCU’s Hattiesburg campus
  2. Scores can only be used at WCU and will not influence state or federal aid
  3. General admittance scores: 20 or above
  4. Conditional admittance scores: 17-19
  5. Free Throw admittance scores: 16-19
  6. WCU accepts ACT superscores for general and conditional admittance. Free Throw admittance requires a minimum single test score of 16.
  7. For more information, visit https://wmcarey.edu/page/residual-act
3. Official score on the College Entrance Examination Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
  1. Composite SAT score is based on a combination of evidence-based reading and writing + math scores only
  2. General admittance scores: 1030 or above
  3. Conditional admittance scores: 920-1020
  4. Free Throw admittance scores: 880-1020
  5. WCU accepts SAT superscores for general and conditional admittance. Free Throw admittance requires a minimum single test score of 880.

If a student took college classes before the completion of high school or home school, the final and official college transcript is not necessary for WCU admission. However, transfer credits will not be applied to a student’s WCU transcript until a final and official college transcript is provided to the Office of Admissions and to the Office of the Registrar.

Final: all courses listed have an associated final grade or notification of withdrawal.
Official: transcript sent to William Carey University from the institution, either digitally delivered or through mail.

Free-Throw Program

William Carey University provides an opportunity for first-time freshmen who do not meet general WCU admission requirements and have no college credit hours after high school graduation to participate in the Free-Throw Program. Applicants with an ACT score of 16 or an SAT score of 880-910 (evidence-based reading and writing + math) is required to participate. Applicants with an ACT score of 17-19 or an SAT score of 920-1020 (evidence-based reading and writing + math) can choose between the Free-Throw Program and Conditional admittance.

Students must be advised for 12 credit hours of coursework by the Student Success Center for the Free-Throw term. Students must successfully complete the first term with a 2.5 GPA or higher to gain regular admission to WCU as a transfer student and to apply for further institutional scholarships. Students who qualify for this program will be contacted by the Office of Admissions.

Transfer Student Admission

A transfer applicant is a student who has 12 college credit hours or more after an awarded high school or homeschool diploma, or after GED passing test scores or HiSET passing test scores have been recorded. Applicants pursuing a second baccalaureate degree are listed as transfer students. Second degree students are not eligible for WCU institutional aid.

A completed student file contains the following:

A submitted application for admission. (Apply Here)
Final and official transcripts from all colleges attended with
1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00
2. Final: all courses listed have an associated final grade or notification of withdrawal
3. Official: transcript sent to William Carey University from the institution either digitally delivered or through mail
Submit nonrefundable application fee.
Documented proof of two immunizations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) if born on or after January 1, 1957.

Readmission to the University

A registered student who does not continue coursework after a fall, winter, or spring trimester and would later like to continue at WCU will return as a readmission applicant, commonly referred to as a readmit applicant. A student who does not register for classes during the summer term only is not considered a readmit applicant. Also, a previous applicant who attended one WCU academic term but did not receive final grades on his or her transcript would return to WCU using the first-time freshman or transfer student admission procedure, respectively.

A completed student file contains the following:

A submitted application for readmission. (Apply Here)
A final and official transcript from the colleges or universities the student attended while absent from WCU.
1. Final: all courses listed have an associated final grade or notification of withdrawal
2. Official: transcript sent to William Carey University from the institution either digitally delivered or delivered through mail
One of the following:
1. A minimum 2.0 GPA on the student’s WCU transcript, if the student did not attend another institution of higher learning while absent from WCU (provided by WCU)
2. A minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA calculated from the student’s WCU transcript and from any other institutions of higher learning attended while absent from WCU (calculated by WCU Office of Admissions after transcripts are received)
Submit nonrefundable application fee. This can be obtained from the student’s past WCU undergraduate file, if previously paid.
Documented proof of two immunizations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) if born on or after January 1, 1957. This can be obtained from the student’s past WCU file, if previously supplied by the student.

Non-Degree Student Admission

Students who want to complete undergraduate courses, but not pursue a degree, are considered non-degree students for the purposes of admission and financial aid. Non-degree students are not eligible for federal financial aid or for institutional scholarships. However, non-degree students are subject to all university regulations governing registration, attendance, and academic standing. Credit earned by a non-degree student is recorded on the student’s permanent record and may be applied in an undergraduate degree program when the student has satisfactorily changed his or her admission type from non-degree to degree seeking.

Non-Degree First-Time Freshman Student Admission

A completed student file contains the following:

A submitted application for admission. (Apply Here)
One of the following:
1. An official high school transcript with
  1. a graduation date that occurred before the transcript arrived at WCU
  2. a 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
2. An accredited or notarized home school credit transcript
  1. a graduation date that occurred before the transcript arrived at WCU
  2. a 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
3. An official GED score report recording eligible scores
  1. GED eligible scores: minimum score of 150 on each of the four content areas or a minimum total score of 600
4. An official HiSET score report recording eligible scores
  1. HiSET eligible scores: minimum score of 15 on all four content areas
  2. essay score is not measured for admission
Submit nonrefundable application fee.
Documented proof of two immunizations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) if born on or after January 1, 1957.
One of the following:
1. National American College Test (ACT) official score report recording eligible scores.
  1. General admittance scores: 20 or above
  2. Conditional admittance scores: 17-19
  3. WCU accepts ACT superscores for general and conditional admittance with a minimum 16 single ACT test score
2. Residual American College Test (ACT) official report recording eligible scores.
  1. Offered by and administered at WCU’s Hattiesburg campus
  2. Scores can only be used at WCU and will not influence state or federal aid
  3. General admittance scores: 20 or above
  4. Conditional admittance scores: 17-19
  5. WCU accepts ACT superscores for general and conditional admittance with a minimum of 16 single ACT test score.
  6. For more information: https://wmcarey.edu/page/residual-act
3. Official score on the College Entrance Examination Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
  1. Composite SAT score is based on a combination of evidence-based reading and writing + math scores only.
  2. General admittance scores: 1030 or above
  3. Conditional admittance scores: 920-1020
  4. WCU accepts SAT superscores for general and conditional admittance with a minimum single test score of 880 (evidence-based reading and writing + math scores only.)

Non-degree Transfer Student Admission

A completed student file contains the following:

A submitted application for admission. (Apply Here)
A final and official transcript from the college or university most recently attended with
1. A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
2. Final: all courses listed have an associated final grade or withdrawal notification
3. Official: transcript sent to William Carey University from the institution either digitally delivered or delivered through mail.
Submit nonrefundable application fee.
Documented proof of two immunizations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) if born on or after January 1, 1957.

High School Dual Credit Program

William Carey University offers a cooperative program in area high schools where specific courses may be offered for college credit in addition to high school credit. Approval of courses for college credit is based on criteria including teacher qualifications, curriculum, and instructional methods. Admission as a dual-credit student is only available to qualifying junior and senior-level students at cooperating high schools. Admission requires a minimum ACT score of 20 or an SAT score of 1030 (evidence-based reading and writing + math) and approval from their high school counselor. Students wishing to take mathematics must have ACT math subscores as follows: 20 for College Algebra (MAT 1310 ) and Trigonometry (MAT 1320 ); 25 for Pre-calculus (MAT 1500 ); and 26 for Calculus w/Analytic Geometry I (MAT 1510 ).

An official high school transcript and official ACT or SAT scores must accompany the application form. When the student elects to begin full-time enrollment with the university following high school graduation, the student must reapply as a degree-seeking student.

Step-Ahead Program

The Step-Ahead Program is for high school students or homeschool students who wish to enroll in college courses before completing high school. The program is offered on the William Carey University Hattiesburg and Tradition campuses. Admission as a Step-Ahead student requires a minimum ACT score of 20 or a minimum SAT score of 1030 (evidence-based reading and writing + math) and approval of the high school counselor or home school coordinator. Students wishing to take mathematics must have ACT math subscores as follows: 20 for College Algebra (MAT 1310 ) and Trigonometry (MAT 1320 ); 25 for Pre-calculus (MAT 1500 ); and 26 for Calculus w/Analytic Geometry I (MAT 1510 ).

An official high school transcript and official ACT or SAT scores must accompany the registration form. When the student elects to begin full-time enrollment with the university following high school graduation, the student must re-apply as a degree-seeking student.

Admission Statuses Defined

Students may have several status categories during the life of their applications, depending upon the completion levels of compliance with published admissions requirements.

Accepted: An applicant who has successfully completed all admission requirements.
Conditional: A freshman applicant with an ACT score of 17, 18, or 19, SAT equivalent score.
Probational: A transfer applicant who does not meet the minimum admission academic standards but is allowed to attend William Carey University by action of the admission appeal committee.
Accepted-Lacking: A freshman or transfer applicant who has met academic admission standards and is awaiting final acceptance pending receipt of missing supporting documents. Also known as provisional acceptance.
Incomplete: An applicant who has not supplied the necessary documents to be considered for another admission status.
Rejected: An applicant who has provided academic performance documents that do not meet WCU minimum requirements.

Students with an accepted-lacking status are allowed to register for their first trimester at WCU. The students must be prepared to

pay at least 50% of all charges by the end of the first week of class, and
provide all documents required for admission by the end of the first term of attendance.

Financial aid will not be processed for or credited/paid to students who have not been officially accepted. Accepted-lacking students cannot register for or continue coursework during the next trimester at WCU without an accepted status.

Students who do not comply with the admission requirements, or who, upon receipt of official documents, do not meet the minimum standards for admission will be removed from classes, will receive no grades, and will be refunded according to the tuition refund policy. Permission for registration does not indicate official acceptance to William Carey University.

Academic Renewal

Academic renewal is provided for qualifying undergraduate students who were not successful with their initial college experience and who have not attended college for the previous five years. The policy allows the student to have one or more terms of previous college work forgiven. For information, contact the Academic Affairs Office at academicaffairs@wmcarey.edu.

Nondisclosure Statement

A student must certify that he or she is not under suspension from any college or university. Nondisclosure or misrepresentation when completing the application for admission may result in disciplinary action taken on the student, including possible dismissal from the university. In addition, students who find after enrollment that they are ineligible to return to the last institution attended and fail to report this immediately to the office of admissions will be subject to disciplinary action, including possible dismissal.

International Student Admission

William Carey University is authorized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enroll non-immigrant alien students on the Hattiesburg campus only. International students may not enroll in online-only programs. International student applicants must meet the requirements listed below. They must also meet the academic requirements listed above in either the first-time freshman or transfer subsections as applicable. A first-time freshman student is one who has attempted less than 12 hours of credit at an institution of higher learning (college or university). A transfer student is one who has attempted 12 or more hours of credit at an institution of higher learning. For additional information about applying as an international student, refer to https://www.wmcarey.edu/page/international-student-admissions.

A completed student file contains the following:

1. Application & Fee. After reviewing the information below, start the application process here. The application fee allows for a student’s application to be processed and may be paid online using a credit or debit card after the application process is initiated or mailed to the Office of International Admissions at WCU Box 13, 710 William Carey Parkway, Hattiesburg, MS, 39401.

2. Academic Records.

First-Time Freshman Student - Official academic records indicating the level of secondary completion or course work completed at a foreign institution(s) must be provided. Properly certified English translations must accompany each transcript. Transcripts may be mailed to William Carey University, Office of International Admissions, WCU Box 13, 710 William Carey Parkway, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, or hand-delivered in the official manner upon arrival.
Transfer Student - Official academic records indicating course progress from any institution(s) of higher education or official transcript(s) from the U.S. institution(s) attended are required. An official transcript is defined as one mailed directly from one institution to another. All records must be in English before a Form I-20 from William Carey University is issued. Transcripts may be mailed to William Carey University, Office of International Admissions, WCU Box 13, 710 William Carey Parkway, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, or sent via an approved electronic transcript platform.
Official college/university transcript(s) - Academic records from each college/university attended must be provided. Transcripts from institutions of higher learning in countries other than the United States must be evaluated by an approved transcript evaluation service before being transmitted to William Carey University. The four approved services are: World Education Services (WES) http://www.wes.org; SpanTran - The Evaluation Company (TEC) https://spantran.com/; Global Credential Evaluators (GCE) https://www.gceus.com/; and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) https://www.ece.org/. William Carey University must receive an official transcript that has been evaluated by one of the four services before the admission file can be processed.
Students transferring from any college or university in the United States must coordinate the transfer of their active SEVIS record from their current institution to William Carey University. The requirements for obtaining such transfers are established by each individual institution. Additional documentation for transfer students may be required by WCU before transferring an active SEVIS record.

3. Language Proficiency. Students who are not from nations where English is considered the official or second language are required to take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum score of 523 is required on the paper-based TOEFL; a minimum score of 193 on the computer-based TOEFL; or a minimum score of 70 on the internet-based TOEFL. Students who wish to take the IELTS must meet the minimum requirement score of 5.5. Students who do not meet the minimum English proficiency required are invited to apply for admission to the William Carey University English Language Center .

4. Certification of Finances. Proof of financial support for the duration of the international student’s stay in the United States is required. This document is included in the online application packet.

5. Health Requirements. Documented proof of two immunizations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) is required if born on or after January 1, 1957. Additionally, each student must complete a tuberculosis screening (chest x-ray and Interferon Gamma Release Assay IGRA) performed in the United States and submit the results to the Office of International Admissions prior to starting class. A tuberculosis skin test does NOT meet this requirement.

6. Major Medical Coverage. All international students are required to have a policy with the university; students will be assessed for the policy coverage at the beginning of each trimester. More information on the health insurance policy adopted by William Carey University is available online at https://www.wmcarey.edu/page/medical-insurance-coverage.

7. Advance Tuition Payment. An advance tuition payment of US$500.00 is required before arriving at William Carey University. This advance payment covers the on-campus housing pre-payment (US$150.00) and any other initial or miscellaneous expenses associated with the first academic term at William Carey University. This advance payment is nonrefundable.

Additional Information. To receive an F-1 visa, international students must schedule an appointment with the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy in their country within 90 days of departure. They must take along their documentation, letter of acceptance, and Form I-20 for presentation and review. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommends the entering student be honest and have copies of all documentation sent to William Carey University available for review by the U.S. custom official at the consulate, embassy, or U.S. port of entry. Custom officials may at any point of the student’s travel to the United States deny him/her entry into the country. WCU cannot act on behalf of students with pending visa appointments or interfere with U.S. government functions to influence or expedite these processes.

International students should refer to the academic and university calendars for dates of trimester breaks and religious and national holidays in preparation for holiday and end-of-year travel.

Questions or concerns should be directed to the director of International Admissions on the Hattiesburg campus, 601-318-6405, 800-962-5991 (toll free), or internationaladmissions@wmcarey.edu.