Alabama State vs Arkansas at Pine Bluff: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs in the SWAC. Arkansas at Pine Bluff runs $1,115 less per year out of state; Arkansas at Pine Bluff 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 Alabama State if…
- You want to play in June: Alabama State has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than Arkansas at Pine Bluff since 2021.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Alabama State against none listed at Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Alabama State admits 98% of applicants.
Lean Arkansas at Pine Bluff if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Arkansas at Pine Bluff lists $1,115 less per year in tuition and housing than Alabama State.
- You would be in-state: Arkansas at Pine Bluff is $2,229 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Alabama State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Arkansas at Pine Bluff graduates 10 percentage points more of its students than Alabama State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Arkansas at Pine Bluff is $6,798 lower than at Alabama State.
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 | Alabama State | Arkansas at Pine Bluff |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $11,248 | $9,019 — Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $19,576 | $17,029 — Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $7,690 — Alabama State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $9,122 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,938 | $18,141 — Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $27,266 | $26,151 — Arkansas at Pine Bluff 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 | Alabama State | Arkansas at Pine Bluff |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 30% | 40% — Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $34,502/yr | $35,550/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $31,000 | $24,202 — Arkansas at Pine Bluff 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. | 90% | 68% — Arkansas at Pine Bluff 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 | Alabama State | Arkansas at Pine Bluff |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 98% | 41% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,870 | 2,100 |
| Where it is | Montgomery, AL | Pine Bluff, AR |
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 | Alabama State | Arkansas at Pine Bluff |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 1 of the last 6 tournaments | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Camise Patterson | Michael Bumpers |
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 | Alabama State | Arkansas at Pine Bluff |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | 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.
Alabama State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- ASU Prospect Camp | August 15th08/15/2026 · 7th Grade - College Sophomore · $125
Arkansas at Pine Bluff
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.
Alabama State vs Arkansas at Pine Bluff: common questions
- Is Alabama State or Arkansas at Pine Bluff cheaper?
- On published price, Arkansas at Pine Bluff is cheaper — about $26,151 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $27,266 at Alabama State. 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, Alabama State or Arkansas at Pine Bluff?
- Arkansas at Pine Bluff, at 40% against 30% at Alabama State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Alabama State and Arkansas at Pine Bluff 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 Alabama State and Arkansas at Pine Bluff run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Alabama State and none currently listed at Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Alabama State and Arkansas at Pine Bluff?
- 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 Alabama State and Arkansas at Pine Bluff accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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