Bemidji State vs Wayne State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the NSIC. Wayne State runs $2,611 less per year; Wayne State 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 Bemidji State if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Bemidji State graduates earn about $6,680 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Wayne State if…
- The number on the bill matters: Wayne State lists $2,611 less per year in tuition and housing than Bemidji State, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Wayne State graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Bemidji State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Wayne State is $750 lower than at Bemidji State.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Wayne State against none listed at Bemidji State.
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 | Bemidji State | Wayne State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $10,164 | $7,970 — Wayne State leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $10,041 | $9,624 — Wayne State leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $20,205 | $17,594 — Wayne State 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 | Bemidji State | Wayne State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 53% | 56% — Wayne State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $53,755/yr — Bemidji State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $47,075/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,750 | $19,000 — Wayne 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. | 37% — Bemidji State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 40% |
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 | Bemidji State | Wayne State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 56% | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,926 | 4,807 |
| Where it is | Bemidji, MN | Wayne, NE |
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 | Bemidji State | Wayne State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Jordan Petersen | Christy Warnock |
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 | Bemidji State | Wayne State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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. 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.
Bemidji 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.
Wayne State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- JUCO Exposure Team Camp01/17/2027 · College Junior · $0 - $300
Bemidji State vs Wayne State: common questions
- Is Bemidji State or Wayne State cheaper?
- On published price, Wayne State is cheaper — about $17,594 a year in tuition and housing, against $20,205 at Bemidji State. 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, Bemidji State or Wayne State?
- Wayne State, at 56% against 53% at Bemidji State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Bemidji State and Wayne 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.
- Do Bemidji State and Wayne State run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Wayne State and none currently listed at Bemidji State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Bemidji State and Wayne 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 Bemidji State and Wayne State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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