Black Hills State vs Northern State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Black Hills State runs $2,747 less per year out of state; Northern State 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 Black Hills State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Black Hills State lists $2,747 less per year in tuition and housing than Northern State.
Lean Northern State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Northern State graduates 13 percentage points more of its students than Black Hills State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Northern State is $3,680 lower than at Black Hills State.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Northern State against none listed at Black Hills 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 | Black Hills State | Northern State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,000 | $8,845 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $12,100 | $11,947 |
| Room & board | $7,400 — Black Hills State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $10,300 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $16,400 — Black Hills State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $19,145 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $19,500 — Black Hills State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $22,247 |
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 | Black Hills State | Northern State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 39% | 52% — Northern State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $46,674/yr | $47,618/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 | $22,320 — Northern 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. | 56% | 47% — Northern State 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 | Black Hills State | Northern State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 96% | 93% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,475 | 3,521 |
| Where it is | Spearfish, SD | Aberdeen, SD |
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 | Black Hills State | Northern State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | RMAC | NSIC |
| Head coach | Ashlyn Englehorn | Kaley Ness |
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 | Black Hills State | Northern State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed |
| 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.
Black Hills 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.
Black Hills State vs Northern State: common questions
- Is Black Hills State or Northern State cheaper?
- On published price, Black Hills State is cheaper — about $19,500 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $22,247 at Northern 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, Black Hills State or Northern State?
- Northern State, at 52% against 39% at Black Hills State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Black Hills State and Northern 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 Black Hills State and Northern State run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Northern State and none currently listed at Black Hills State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Black Hills State and Northern 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 Black Hills State and Northern State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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