Aurora vs Bethany Lutheran: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Bethany Lutheran runs $3,180 less per year; Bethany Lutheran graduates 2 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 Aurora if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Aurora graduates earn about $12,599 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Aurora is $2,682 lower than at Bethany Lutheran.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Aurora admits 81% of applicants.
Lean Bethany Lutheran if…
- The number on the bill matters: Bethany Lutheran lists $3,180 less per year in tuition and housing than Aurora, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Bethany Lutheran graduates 2 percentage points more of its students than Aurora.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Bethany Lutheran against none listed at Aurora.
- Your transcript is a strength: Bethany Lutheran admits 39% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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 | Aurora | Bethany Lutheran |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $28,220 — Aurora leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $30,010 |
| Room & board | $13,240 | $8,270 — Bethany Lutheran leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $41,460 | $38,280 — Bethany Lutheran leads on this measure: lower total cost per year |
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 | Aurora | Bethany Lutheran |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 58% | 60% — Bethany Lutheran leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $58,709/yr — Aurora leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $46,110/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,318 — Aurora leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $23,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 35% — Aurora leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 50% |
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 | Aurora | Bethany Lutheran |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 81% | 39% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 5,935 | 902 |
| Where it is | Aurora, IL | Mankato, MN |
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 | Aurora | Bethany Lutheran |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | NACC | UMAC |
| Head coach | Mike McKenzie | Angela Dabu |
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 | Aurora | Bethany Lutheran |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
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.
Aurora
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.
Bethany Lutheran
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Catching Camp08/17/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $125
Aurora vs Bethany Lutheran: common questions
- Is Aurora or Bethany Lutheran cheaper?
- On published price, Bethany Lutheran is cheaper — about $38,280 a year in tuition and housing, against $41,460 at Aurora. 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, Aurora or Bethany Lutheran?
- Bethany Lutheran, at 60% against 58% at Aurora (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Aurora and Bethany Lutheran offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- Do Aurora and Bethany Lutheran run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Bethany Lutheran and none currently listed at Aurora. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Aurora and Bethany Lutheran?
- 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 Aurora and Bethany Lutheran accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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