Allen vs Montevallo: Softball Program Comparison

Two D2 programs. Allen runs $14,610 less per year out of state; Montevallo graduates 36 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 Allen if…

  • You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Allen lists $14,610 less per year in tuition and housing than Montevallo.
  • Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Allen admits 73% of applicants.

Lean Montevallo if…

  • You would be in-state: Montevallo is $594 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Allen.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Montevallo graduates 36 percentage points more of its students than Allen.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Montevallo graduates earn about $12,460 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Montevallo is $10,290 lower than at Allen.

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: Allen compared with Montevallo
MeasureAllenMontevallo
In-state tuition & fees$14,304$13,710 Montevallo leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition
Out-of-state tuition & fees$14,304 Allen leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition$26,730
Room & board$8,584 Allen leads on this measure: lower room & board$10,768
Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$22,888 Allen leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost$24,478
Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$22,888 Allen leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost$37,498

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: Allen compared with Montevallo
MeasureAllenMontevallo
Graduation rate13%49% Montevallo leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$30,497/yr$42,957/yr Montevallo leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out
Median debt at graduation$34,290$24,000 Montevallo 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.112%56% Montevallo 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: Allen compared with Montevallo
MeasureAllenMontevallo
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.73%54%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.6772,942
Where it isColumbia, SCMontevallo, AL

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: Allen compared with Montevallo
MeasureAllenMontevallo
ConferenceSIACGSC
Head coachQuinton BlairBeth Wade

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: Allen compared with Montevallo
MeasureAllenMontevallo
Camps we track1 listed (1 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

Scholarship money, honestly

Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.

How D2 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.

Allen

Find the recruiting questionnaire

We 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.

Montevallo

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Allen vs Montevallo: common questions

Is Allen or Montevallo cheaper?
On published price, Allen is cheaper — about $22,888 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $37,498 at Montevallo. 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, Allen or Montevallo?
Montevallo, at 49% against 13% at Allen (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Allen and Montevallo offer softball scholarships?
Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
Do Allen and Montevallo run softball camps?
We track 1 camp at Montevallo and none currently listed at Allen. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Allen and Montevallo?
Montevallo runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Allen, 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 Allen and Montevallo accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

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