Bowling Green State vs Nebraska Omaha: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Bowling Green State graduates 16 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 Bowling Green State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Bowling Green State graduates 16 percentage points more of its students than Nebraska Omaha.
Lean Nebraska Omaha if…
- You would be in-state: Nebraska Omaha is $5,711 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Bowling Green State.
- You want to play in June: Nebraska Omaha has reached 3 more NCAA tournaments than Bowling Green State since 2021.
- You want the stronger program on paper: Nebraska Omaha rates strong against solid at Bowling Green 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 | Bowling Green State | Nebraska Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $14,081 | $8,370 — Nebraska Omaha leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $22,070 | $22,358 |
| Room & board | $11,784 | $11,610 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $25,865 | $19,980 — Nebraska Omaha leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $33,854 | $33,968 |
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 | Bowling Green State | Nebraska Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 63% — Bowling Green State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 47% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $47,896/yr | — |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 | — |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 52% | — |
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 | Bowling Green State | Nebraska Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 17,027 | 15,015 |
| Where it is | Bowling Green, OH | Omaha, 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 | Bowling Green State | Nebraska Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MAC | Summit |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | 3 of the last 6 tournaments |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Solid | Strong |
| Head coach | Michelle Gardner | Mike Heard |
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 | Bowling Green State | Nebraska Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
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.
Bowling Green 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.
Nebraska Omaha
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.
Bowling Green State vs Nebraska Omaha: common questions
- Is Bowling Green State or Nebraska Omaha cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $33,854 a year out of state in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Bowling Green State or Nebraska Omaha?
- Bowling Green State, at 63% against 47% at Nebraska Omaha (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Bowling Green State and Nebraska Omaha offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
- How do I contact the coaches at Bowling Green State and Nebraska Omaha?
- 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 Bowling Green State and Nebraska Omaha accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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