Bethel vs Ohio Northern: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Ohio Northern runs $4,020 less per year; Ohio Northern graduates earn $17,164 more a decade out.
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 Bethel if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Bethel is $5,500 lower than at Ohio Northern.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Bethel admits 88% of applicants.
Lean Ohio Northern if…
- The number on the bill matters: Ohio Northern lists $4,020 less per year in tuition and housing than Bethel, and neither charges by residency.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Ohio Northern graduates earn about $17,164 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Your transcript is a strength: Ohio Northern admits 74% 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 | Bethel | Ohio Northern |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $42,930 | $37,800 — Ohio Northern leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $12,090 — Bethel leads on this measure: lower room & board | $13,200 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $55,020 | $51,000 — Ohio Northern 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 | Bethel | Ohio Northern |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 75% | 74% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $63,764/yr | $80,928/yr — Ohio Northern leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 — Bethel leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $27,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 34% | 33% |
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 | Bethel | Ohio Northern |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 88% | 74% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,521 | 3,042 |
| Where it is | Saint Paul, MN | Ada, OH |
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 | Bethel | Ohio Northern |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MIAC | OAC |
| Head coach | Penny Foore | Summer Collins |
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 | Bethel | Ohio Northern |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Bethel
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.
Ohio Northern
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.
Bethel vs Ohio Northern: common questions
- Is Bethel or Ohio Northern cheaper?
- On published price, Ohio Northern is cheaper — about $51,000 a year in tuition and housing, against $55,020 at Bethel. 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, Bethel or Ohio Northern?
- Bethel, at 75% against 74% at Ohio Northern (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Bethel and Ohio Northern 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Bethel and Ohio Northern?
- 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 Bethel and Ohio Northern accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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