Adrian vs North Park: Softball Program Comparison

Two D3 programs. North Park runs $7,880 less per year; North Park graduates earn $4,068 more a decade out.

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 Adrian if…

  • On the figures we hold, Adrian does not lead North Park 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 North Park if…

  • The number on the bill matters: North Park lists $7,880 less per year in tuition and housing than Adrian, and neither charges by residency.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: North Park graduates earn about $4,068 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at North Park is $1,500 lower than at Adrian.

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.

What it costs to go there: Adrian compared with North Park
MeasureAdrianNorth Park
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$40,556$35,325 North Park leads on this measure: lower published tuition
Room & board$13,424$10,775 North Park leads on this measure: lower room & board
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$53,980$46,100 North Park 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.

What you leave with: Adrian compared with North Park
MeasureAdrianNorth Park
Graduation rate56%56%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$55,504/yr$59,572/yr North Park leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out
Median debt at graduation$27,000$25,500 North Park 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.49%43% North Park 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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Adrian compared with North Park
MeasureAdrianNorth Park
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.73%69%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.1,7602,624
Where it isAdrian, MIChicago, IL

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.

The softball program itself: Adrian compared with North Park
MeasureAdrianNorth Park
ConferenceMIAA-D3CCIW
Head coachKaylee FoxKatie Anderson

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.

How you actually get in front of them: Adrian compared with North Park
MeasureAdrianNorth Park
Camps we track1 listed (1 with dates)1 listed
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

Scholarship money, honestly

Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.

How D3 softball scholarships actually work →

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.

Adrian

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Adrian vs North Park: common questions

Is Adrian or North Park cheaper?
On published price, North Park is cheaper — about $46,100 a year in tuition and housing, against $53,980 at Adrian. 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, Adrian or North Park?
Both report a 56% graduation rate (IPEDS, 2023-24).
Do Adrian and North Park offer softball scholarships?
Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
Do Adrian and North Park run softball camps?
Both do — we track 1 at Adrian and 1 at North Park. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
How do I contact the coaches at Adrian and North Park?
Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.

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 Adrian and North Park accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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