Akron vs Southern Illinois: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Southern Illinois runs $2,951 less per year out of state; Southern Illinois graduates 8 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 Akron if…
- You would be in-state: Akron is $445 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Southern Illinois.
- Your transcript is a strength: Akron admits 60% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Southern Illinois if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Southern Illinois lists $2,951 less per year in tuition and housing than Akron.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Southern Illinois graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than Akron.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Southern Illinois graduates earn about $6,790 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Southern Illinois is $1,707 lower than at Akron.
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 | Akron | Southern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $12,799 — Akron leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $13,244 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $17,239 | $13,244 — Southern Illinois leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $11,070 — Akron leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,114 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $23,869 — Akron leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $25,358 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $28,309 | $25,358 — Southern Illinois leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
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 | Akron | Southern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 48% | 56% — Southern Illinois leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $46,600/yr | $53,390/yr — Southern Illinois leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 | $21,543 — Southern Illinois 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. | 50% | 40% — Southern Illinois 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 | Akron | Southern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 60% | 87% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 13,518 | 11,359 |
| Where it is | Akron, OH | Carbondale, 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.
| Measure | Akron | Southern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MAC | Missouri Valley |
| Conference level | Mid-Major | High Major |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 1 of the last 6 tournaments | 3 of the last 6 tournaments |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Solid | Strong |
| Head coach | Craig Nicholson | Jen Sewell |
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 | Akron | Southern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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.
Akron
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.
Southern Illinois
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
Akron vs Southern Illinois: common questions
- Is Akron or Southern Illinois cheaper?
- On published price, Southern Illinois is cheaper — about $25,358 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $28,309 at Akron. 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, Akron or Southern Illinois?
- Southern Illinois, at 56% against 48% at Akron (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Akron and Southern Illinois 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 Akron and Southern Illinois run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Southern Illinois and none currently listed at Akron. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Akron and Southern Illinois?
- Akron runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Southern Illinois, 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 Akron and Southern Illinois accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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