Arkansas at Monticello vs Southern Arkansas: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the GAC. Arkansas at Monticello lists $682 less in out-of-state tuition; Southern Arkansas graduates 3 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 Arkansas at Monticello if…
- You would be in-state: Arkansas at Monticello is $952 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Southern Arkansas.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Arkansas at Monticello against none listed at Southern Arkansas.
Lean Southern Arkansas if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Southern Arkansas graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Arkansas at Monticello.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Southern Arkansas graduates earn about $5,484 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Southern Arkansas is $1,221 lower than at Arkansas at Monticello.
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 | Arkansas at Monticello | Southern Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,868 — Arkansas at Monticello leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $9,820 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $14,718 — Arkansas at Monticello leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $15,400 |
| Room & board | $7,820 | $7,601 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $16,688 — Arkansas at Monticello leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $17,421 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $22,538 | $23,001 |
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 | Arkansas at Monticello | Southern Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 43% | 46% — Southern Arkansas leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $36,902/yr | $42,386/yr — Southern Arkansas leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,971 | $18,750 — Southern Arkansas 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. | 54% | 44% — Southern Arkansas 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 | Arkansas at Monticello | Southern Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 75% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,739 | 5,127 |
| Where it is | Monticello, AR | Magnolia, 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 | Arkansas at Monticello | Southern Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kyle Lem | Shelby Shelton |
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 | Arkansas at Monticello | Southern Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 2 listed (2 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | Yes |
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.
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.
Arkansas at Monticello
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Summer Prospect Camp08/22/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $75
- Fall Prospect Camp | September 19th09/19/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $75
Southern Arkansas
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.
Arkansas at Monticello vs Southern Arkansas: common questions
- Is Arkansas at Monticello or Southern Arkansas cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $22,538 a year out of state 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, Arkansas at Monticello or Southern Arkansas?
- Southern Arkansas, at 46% against 43% at Arkansas at Monticello (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Arkansas at Monticello and Southern Arkansas 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 Arkansas at Monticello and Southern Arkansas run softball camps?
- We track 2 camps at Arkansas at Monticello and none currently listed at Southern Arkansas. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Arkansas at Monticello and Southern Arkansas?
- Arkansas at Monticello runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Southern Arkansas, 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 Arkansas at Monticello and Southern Arkansas accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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