Augusta vs Virginia State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Virginia State lists $1,494 less in out-of-state tuition; Augusta graduates 8 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 Augusta if…
- You would be in-state: Augusta is $1,633 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Virginia State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Augusta graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than Virginia State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Augusta graduates earn about $2,929 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Augusta is $6,000 lower than at Virginia State.
Lean Virginia State if…
- On the figures we hold, Virginia State does not lead Augusta on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
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 | Augusta | Virginia State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,122 — Augusta leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $9,755 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $23,500 | $22,006 — Virginia State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $11,935 — Augusta leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,966 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $20,057 — Augusta leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $22,721 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $35,435 | $34,972 |
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 | Augusta | Virginia State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 49% — Augusta leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 41% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $48,472/yr — Augusta leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $45,543/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 — Augusta leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $26,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 42% — Augusta 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 | Augusta | Virginia State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 86% | 89% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 9,862 | 5,190 |
| Where it is | Augusta, GA | Petersburg, VA |
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 | Augusta | Virginia State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | PBC | CIAA |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Solid | Developing |
| Head coach | Melissa Brocato | Jameshia Smith |
| In the job since | 1998 | — |
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 | Augusta | Virginia State |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Augusta
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.
Virginia State
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.
Augusta vs Virginia State: common questions
- Is Augusta or Virginia State cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $35,435 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, Augusta or Virginia State?
- Augusta, at 49% against 41% at Virginia State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Augusta and Virginia 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Augusta and Virginia State?
- Augusta runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Virginia State, 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 Augusta and Virginia State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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