Abilene Christian vs Lipscomb: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Lipscomb lists $3,556 less in tuition; Lipscomb graduates 9 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 Abilene Christian if…
- On the figures we hold, Abilene Christian does not lead Lipscomb on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
Lean Lipscomb if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Lipscomb graduates 9 percentage points more of its students than Abilene Christian.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Lipscomb is $4,750 lower than at Abilene Christian.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 6 camps at Lipscomb against none listed at Abilene Christian.
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 | Abilene Christian | Lipscomb |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $42,380 | $38,824 — Lipscomb leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $12,500 — Abilene Christian leads on this measure: lower room & board | $14,804 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $54,880 | $53,628 |
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 | Abilene Christian | Lipscomb |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% | 69% — Lipscomb leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $55,736/yr | $55,541/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,250 | $19,500 — Lipscomb leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 44% | 35% — Lipscomb leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
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 | Abilene Christian | Lipscomb |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 66% | 68% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 5,114 | 5,047 |
| Where it is | Abilene, TX | Nashville, TN |
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 | Abilene Christian | Lipscomb |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | UAC | ASUN |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Larry Hays | Kristin Ryman |
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 | Abilene Christian | Lipscomb |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 6 listed (6 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
Abilene 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.
Lipscomb
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Elite Pitching CampAugust 23rd, 2026 · Register
- Elite Skills CampAugust 23rd, 2026 · Register
- Elite Catching CampAugust 23rd, 2026 · Register
- Elite Pitching CampSeptember 13th, 2026 · Register
Abilene Christian vs Lipscomb: common questions
- Is Abilene Christian or Lipscomb cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $54,880 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Abilene Christian or Lipscomb?
- Lipscomb, at 69% against 60% at Abilene Christian (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Abilene Christian and Lipscomb offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
- Do Abilene Christian and Lipscomb run softball camps?
- We track 6 camps at Lipscomb and none currently listed at Abilene Christian. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Abilene Christian and Lipscomb?
- Lipscomb runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Abilene 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 Abilene Christian and Lipscomb accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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