Bellevue vs Dickinson State: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs in the FRON. Dickinson State runs $611 less per year out of state; Bellevue graduates 13 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 Bellevue if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Bellevue graduates 13 percentage points more of its students than Dickinson State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Bellevue graduates earn about $10,569 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Dickinson State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Dickinson State lists $611 less per year in tuition and housing than Bellevue.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Dickinson State is $1,558 lower than at Bellevue.
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 | Bellevue | Dickinson State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,886 | $9,118 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $8,886 — Bellevue leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $11,218 |
| Room & board | $10,683 | $7,740 — Dickinson State leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $19,569 | $16,858 — Dickinson 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. | $19,569 | $18,958 — Dickinson 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 | Bellevue | Dickinson State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 56% — Bellevue leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 43% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $61,289/yr — Bellevue leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $50,720/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,000 | $18,442 — Dickinson State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 33% — Bellevue leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 36% |
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 | Bellevue | Dickinson State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 37% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 14,476 | 1,453 |
| Where it is | Bellevue, NE | Dickinson, ND |
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 | Bellevue | Dickinson State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Michala Cimino | Kristen Fleury |
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 | Bellevue | Dickinson State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NAIA, so the scholarship rules are identical: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic 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.
Bellevue
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.
Dickinson State
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.
Bellevue vs Dickinson State: common questions
- Is Bellevue or Dickinson State cheaper?
- On published price, Dickinson State is cheaper — about $18,958 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $19,569 at Bellevue. 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, Bellevue or Dickinson State?
- Bellevue, at 56% against 43% at Dickinson State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Bellevue and Dickinson State offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NAIA: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Bellevue and Dickinson 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 Bellevue and Dickinson State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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