Auburn vs Missouri: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs in the SEC. Auburn 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 Auburn if…
- You would be in-state: Auburn is $1,594 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Missouri.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Auburn graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Missouri.
- You want to play in June: Auburn has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than Missouri since 2021.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 8 camps at Auburn against 6 at Missouri.
Lean Missouri if…
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Missouri admits 78% 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 | Auburn | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $12,536 — Auburn leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $14,130 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $33,944 | $34,338 |
| Room & board | $15,396 | $13,550 — Missouri leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $27,932 | $27,680 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $49,340 | $47,888 |
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 | Auburn | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 79% — Auburn leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 76% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $65,337/yr | $63,403/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,000 | $20,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 32% | 32% |
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 | Auburn | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 46% | 78% |
| U.S. News rankU.S. News Best Colleges 2026. Only ranked institutions appear. | #69 — Auburn leads on this measure: ranked higher by U.S. News | #76 |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 33,015 | 31,013 |
| Where it is | Auburn, AL | Columbia, MO |
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 | Auburn | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 5 of the last 6 tournaments | 4 of the last 6 tournaments |
| NCAA RPI | #31 — Auburn leads on this measure: ranked higher in the NCAA RPI | #44 |
| Head coach | Chris & Kate Malveaux | Larissa Anderson |
| 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 | Auburn | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 8 listed (8 with dates) | 6 listed (6 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | 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.
Auburn
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- April Tuesday Night Hitting ClinicsApril 7th, 2026 - April 28th, 2026 · Register
- Elite Prospect Camp IJune 9th, 2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · Register
- Summer Pitching and Catching CampJune 15th, 2026 · 6th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · Register
- Summer Hitting CampJune 15th, 2026 · 6th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · Register
Missouri
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Tiger Development CampJuly 28th, 2026 · Register
- Mizzou Pitching and Catching ClinicAugust 16th, 2026 · Wait List
- 2028 Elite CampAugust 22nd, 2026 · Wait List
- 2029 Show-Me I.D. CampSeptember 26th, 2026 · Wait List
Auburn vs Missouri: common questions
- Is Auburn or Missouri cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $49,340 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, Auburn or Missouri?
- Auburn, at 79% against 76% at Missouri (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Auburn and Missouri 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 Auburn and Missouri run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 8 at Auburn and 6 at Missouri. 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 Auburn and Missouri?
- 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 Auburn and Missouri accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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