Barton vs Mount Olive: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the CC. Mount Olive runs $11,488 less per year; Barton graduates 5 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 Barton if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Barton graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than Mount Olive.
Lean Mount Olive if…
- The number on the bill matters: Mount Olive lists $11,488 less per year in tuition and housing than Barton, and neither charges by residency.
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 | Barton | Mount Olive |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $35,600 | $25,950 — Mount Olive leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $13,050 | $11,212 — Mount Olive leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $48,650 | $37,162 — Mount Olive 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 | Barton | Mount Olive |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 52% — Barton leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 47% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $47,913/yr | — |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,877 | — |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 54% | — |
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 | Barton | Mount Olive |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 94% | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,259 | 2,128 |
| Where it is | Wilson, NC | Mount Olive, NC |
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 | Barton | Mount Olive |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Courtlynn Cooney | India Kornegay |
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 | Barton | Mount Olive |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Barton
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.
Mount Olive
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.
Barton vs Mount Olive: common questions
- Is Barton or Mount Olive cheaper?
- On published price, Mount Olive is cheaper — about $37,162 a year in tuition and housing, against $48,650 at Barton. 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, Barton or Mount Olive?
- Barton, at 52% against 47% at Mount Olive (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Barton and Mount Olive 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 Barton and Mount Olive?
- 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 Barton and Mount Olive accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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