Arkansas Tech vs Columbus State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Arkansas Tech runs $3,713 less per year out of state; Arkansas Tech 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 Tech if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Arkansas Tech lists $3,713 less per year in tuition and housing than Columbus State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Arkansas Tech graduates 7 percentage points more of its students than Columbus State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Arkansas Tech is $5,000 lower than at Columbus State.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Arkansas Tech against none listed at Columbus State.
Lean Columbus State if…
- You would be in-state: Columbus State is $2,757 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Arkansas Tech.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Columbus State graduates earn about $2,778 more per year a decade after enrolling.
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 Tech | Columbus State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,508 | $5,751 — Columbus State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $14,502 — Arkansas Tech leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $16,805 |
| Room & board | $9,852 — Arkansas Tech leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,262 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,360 | $17,013 — Columbus State 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. | $24,354 — Arkansas Tech leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $28,067 |
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 Tech | Columbus State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 49% — Arkansas Tech leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 42% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $41,766/yr | $44,544/yr — Columbus State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,000 — Arkansas Tech leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $26,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 50% — Arkansas Tech leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 58% |
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 Tech | Columbus State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 96% | 99% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 9,487 | 7,610 |
| Where it is | Russellville, AR | Columbus, GA |
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 Tech | Columbus State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GAC | PBC |
| Head coach | Jordon Jones | Brad Huskisson |
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 Tech | Columbus State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 2 listed (2 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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 Tech
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Intermediate Kids Camp08/22/2026 · 5th Grade - 9th Grade · $50
- Kiddie Camp08/22/2026 · 1st Grade - 5th Grade · $50
Columbus 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 Tech vs Columbus State: common questions
- Is Arkansas Tech or Columbus State cheaper?
- On published price, Arkansas Tech is cheaper — about $24,354 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $28,067 at Columbus 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 Tech or Columbus State?
- Arkansas Tech, at 49% against 42% at Columbus State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Arkansas Tech and Columbus State 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 Tech and Columbus State run softball camps?
- We track 2 camps at Arkansas Tech and none currently listed at Columbus State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Arkansas Tech and Columbus 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 Tech and Columbus State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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