Blue Mountain Christian vs William Carey: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs in the SSAC. William Carey runs $6,036 less per year; Blue Mountain Christian graduates 10 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Blue Mountain Christian if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Blue Mountain Christian graduates 10 percentage points more of its students than William Carey.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Blue Mountain Christian is $2,298 lower than at William Carey.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Blue Mountain Christian admits 89% of applicants.
Lean William Carey if…
- The number on the bill matters: William Carey lists $6,036 less per year in tuition and housing than Blue Mountain Christian, and neither charges by residency.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: William Carey graduates earn about $2,666 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Your transcript is a strength: William Carey admits 60% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Blue Mountain Christian | William Carey |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $19,280 | $14,685 — William Carey leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $9,040 | $7,599 — William Carey leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $28,320 | $22,284 — William Carey leads on this measure: lower total cost per year |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Blue Mountain Christian | William Carey |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 51% — Blue Mountain Christian leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 41% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $40,421/yr | $43,087/yr — William Carey leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,534 — Blue Mountain Christian leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $20,832 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 46% — Blue Mountain Christian leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 48% |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Blue Mountain Christian | William Carey |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 89% | 60% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 971 | 5,448 |
| Where it is | Blue Mountain, MS | Hattiesburg, MS |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Blue Mountain Christian | William Carey |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Matt Brunet | Wendy Hogue |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Blue Mountain Christian | William Carey |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NAIA, so the scholarship rules are identical: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Blue Mountain Christian
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
William Carey
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Blue Mountain Christian vs William Carey: common questions
- Is Blue Mountain Christian or William Carey cheaper?
- On published price, William Carey is cheaper — about $22,284 a year in tuition and housing, against $28,320 at Blue Mountain Christian. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Blue Mountain Christian or William Carey?
- Blue Mountain Christian, at 51% against 41% at William Carey (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Blue Mountain Christian and William Carey offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NAIA: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Blue Mountain Christian and William Carey?
- William Carey runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Blue Mountain Christian, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Blue Mountain Christian and William Carey accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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