Black Hills State vs Southwest Minnesota State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Black Hills State runs $1,470 less per year out of state; Southwest Minnesota State graduates 5 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 $1,470 less per year in tuition and housing than Southwest Minnesota State.
- You would be in-state: Black Hills State is $1,304 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Southwest Minnesota State.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Black Hills State admits 96% of applicants.
Lean Southwest Minnesota State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Southwest Minnesota State graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than Black Hills State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Southwest Minnesota State graduates earn about $4,668 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Southwest Minnesota State is $5,500 lower than at Black Hills State.
- Your transcript is a strength: Southwest Minnesota State admits 62% 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 | Black Hills State | Southwest Minnesota State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,000 — Black Hills State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $10,304 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $12,100 | $10,304 — Southwest Minnesota State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $7,400 — Black Hills State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $10,666 |
| 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 | $20,970 |
| 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 | $20,970 |
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 | Southwest Minnesota State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 39% | 44% — Southwest Minnesota State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $46,674/yr | $51,342/yr — Southwest Minnesota State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 | $20,500 — Southwest Minnesota 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% | 40% — Southwest Minnesota 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 | Southwest Minnesota State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 96% | 62% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,475 | 7,324 |
| Where it is | Spearfish, SD | Marshall, 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 | Black Hills State | Southwest Minnesota State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | RMAC | NSIC |
| Head coach | Ashlyn Englehorn | Bailey Bouman |
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 | Southwest Minnesota State |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
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.
Southwest Minnesota 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 Southwest Minnesota State: common questions
- Is Black Hills State or Southwest Minnesota State cheaper?
- On published price, Black Hills State is cheaper — about $19,500 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $20,970 at Southwest Minnesota 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 Southwest Minnesota State?
- Southwest Minnesota State, at 44% against 39% at Black Hills State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Black Hills State and Southwest Minnesota 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Black Hills State and Southwest Minnesota 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 Southwest Minnesota State 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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