Bethany Lutheran vs Concordia: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Bethany Lutheran runs $3,620 less per year; Concordia graduates 12 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 Bethany Lutheran if…
- The number on the bill matters: Bethany Lutheran lists $3,620 less per year in tuition and housing than Concordia, and neither charges by residency.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Bethany Lutheran is $3,847 lower than at Concordia.
- Your transcript is a strength: Bethany Lutheran admits 39% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Concordia if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Concordia graduates 12 percentage points more of its students than Bethany Lutheran.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Concordia graduates earn about $13,207 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Concordia against 1 at Bethany Lutheran.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Concordia admits 63% of applicants.
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 | Bethany Lutheran | Concordia |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $30,010 | $30,020 |
| Room & board | $8,270 — Bethany Lutheran leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,880 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $38,280 — Bethany Lutheran leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $41,900 |
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 | Bethany Lutheran | Concordia |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% | 72% — Concordia leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $46,110/yr | $59,317/yr — Concordia leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 — Bethany Lutheran leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $26,847 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 50% | 45% — Concordia leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
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 | Bethany Lutheran | Concordia |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 39% | 63% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 902 | 1,868 |
| Where it is | Mankato, MN | Moorhead, 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 | Bethany Lutheran | Concordia |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | UMAC | MIAC |
| Head coach | Angela Dabu | Cora Zackrison |
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 | Bethany Lutheran | Concordia |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | 2 listed (2 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.
Bethany Lutheran
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Catching Camp08/17/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $125
Concordia
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Cobber - Fall Prospect Camp #1 | September 12th09/12/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $85 - $105
- Cobber - Fall Prospect Camp #2 | October 17th10/17/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $85 - $105
Bethany Lutheran vs Concordia: common questions
- Is Bethany Lutheran or Concordia cheaper?
- On published price, Bethany Lutheran is cheaper — about $38,280 a year in tuition and housing, against $41,900 at Concordia. 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, Bethany Lutheran or Concordia?
- Concordia, at 72% against 60% at Bethany Lutheran (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Bethany Lutheran and Concordia 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 Bethany Lutheran and Concordia run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 1 at Bethany Lutheran and 2 at Concordia. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
- How do I contact the coaches at Bethany Lutheran and Concordia?
- 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 Bethany Lutheran and Concordia accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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