Arkansas vs Mississippi State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs in the SEC. Mississippi State runs $3,189 less per year out of state; Arkansas 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 if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Arkansas graduates 7 percentage points more of its students than Mississippi State.
- You want to play in June: Arkansas has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than Mississippi State since 2021.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Arkansas against 2 at Mississippi State.
Lean Mississippi State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Mississippi State lists $3,189 less per year in tuition and housing than Arkansas.
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 | Mississippi State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,748 | $9,815 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $28,772 | $26,580 — Mississippi State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $13,290 | $12,293 — Mississippi State leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $23,038 | $22,108 — Mississippi 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. | $42,062 | $38,873 — Mississippi State 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 | Arkansas | Mississippi State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 70% — Arkansas leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 63% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | — | $51,513/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | — | $22,142 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | — | 43% |
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 | Mississippi State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 78% |
| U.S. News rankU.S. News Best Colleges 2026. Only ranked institutions appear. | #97 | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 32,140 | 22,657 |
| Where it is | Fayetteville, AR | Mississippi State, MS |
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 | Mississippi State |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 6 of the last 6 tournaments (1 WCWS) | 5 of the last 6 tournaments (1 WCWS) |
| NCAA RPI | #3 | — |
| Head coach | Courtney Deifel | Samantha Ricketts |
| In the job since | 2018 | — |
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 | Mississippi State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 3 listed (3 with dates) | 2 listed (2 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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.
Arkansas
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Elite Hitting Camp08/22/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $175
- Elite Pitching & Catching Camp08/22/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $175
- Elite All-Skills Camp08/22/2026 - 08/23/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $275
Mississippi State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Elite Camp | August 22nd08/22/2026 · 8th - 12th · $162.50
- Elite Camp | August 23rd08/23/2026 · 8th - 12th · $162.50
Arkansas vs Mississippi State: common questions
- Is Arkansas or Mississippi State cheaper?
- On published price, Mississippi State is cheaper — about $38,873 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $42,062 at Arkansas. 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 or Mississippi State?
- Arkansas, at 70% against 63% at Mississippi State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Arkansas and Mississippi 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.
- Do Arkansas and Mississippi State run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 3 at Arkansas and 2 at Mississippi State. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
- How do I contact the coaches at Arkansas and Mississippi 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 and Mississippi State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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