William Carey University is making headlines this week, unveiling a trio of major developments that underscore its rising prominence in higher education and healthcare in Mississippi.
On Monday, WCU dedicated its new Institute of Primary Care, a 50,000‑square‑foot facility slated to expand to 70,000-square-feet in a second phase expected by November. The building was formally named in honor of former federal judge and longtime trustee Judge Charles W. Pickering, praised by leaders as a tremendous advocate from the program’s inception. The state‑of‑the‑art complex houses a simulation center, osteopathic manipulative medicine lab- the largest in the country and clinical rooms built to mirror real healthcare settings. Students will begin training in the new facility this fall.
Just days earlier, on July 22, WCU forged a strategic partnership with Howard Industries, based in Ellisville. Through a memorandum of understanding, WCU faculty collaborated with Howard to develop modern technical training programs at WCU’s Institute for Excellence, aligning student coursework with the company’s workforce needs. The partnership promises a pipeline for both WCU graduates and Howard employees seeking skill advancement.
Capping off an exceptional week, on July 23, WCU was named the number one four‑year university in Mississippi by money.com in its 2025 “Best Colleges in America” ranking. WCU was the only university in the state to earn a full four‑star rating—a distinction based on quality, affordability, and graduate earnings.
“I’m proud of the dedicated team at WCU whose hard work has paid off again. It’s a huge honor for our students, faculty and staff, alumni, and board of trustees to be recognized at this level. We will keep working hard to represent our university in Mississippi – and across the country,” said President of WCU, Dr. Ben Burnett.
With these initiatives—the innovative curriculum partnership, the new healthcare training hub, and national recognition—William Carey University continues to reinforce its mission to serve rural and underserved communities across Mississippi via education, workforce development, and healthcare training.
