Arkansas at Pine Bluff vs Tennessee State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Arkansas at Pine Bluff runs $6,253 less per year out of state; Arkansas at Pine Bluff graduates 7 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 Pine Bluff if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Arkansas at Pine Bluff lists $6,253 less per year in tuition and housing than Tennessee State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Arkansas at Pine Bluff graduates 7 percentage points more of its students than Tennessee State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Arkansas at Pine Bluff is $2,798 lower than at Tennessee State.
- Your transcript is a strength: Arkansas at Pine Bluff admits 41% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Tennessee State if…
- You would be in-state: Tennessee State is $451 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Tennessee State graduates earn about $7,180 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Tennessee State admits 70% of applicants.
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 Pine Bluff | Tennessee State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,019 | $8,568 — Tennessee State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $17,029 — Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $22,284 |
| Room & board | $9,122 — Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads on this measure: lower room & board | $10,120 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,141 | $18,688 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $26,151 — Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $32,404 |
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 Pine Bluff | Tennessee State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 40% — Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 33% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $35,550/yr | $42,730/yr — Tennessee State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,202 — Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $27,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 68% | 63% — Tennessee State 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 Pine Bluff | Tennessee State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 41% | 70% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,100 | 8,198 |
| Where it is | Pine Bluff, AR | Nashville, TN |
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 Pine Bluff | Tennessee State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SWAC | Ohio Valley |
| Conference level | Low Major | Mid-Major |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Michael Bumpers | Genee McRath |
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 Pine Bluff | Tennessee State |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
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.
Tennessee State
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.
Arkansas at Pine Bluff vs Tennessee State: common questions
- Is Arkansas at Pine Bluff or Tennessee State cheaper?
- On published price, Arkansas at Pine Bluff is cheaper — about $26,151 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $32,404 at Tennessee 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, Arkansas at Pine Bluff or Tennessee State?
- Arkansas at Pine Bluff, at 40% against 33% at Tennessee State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Tennessee State 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Tennessee State?
- 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 Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Tennessee State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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