BYU vs Florida: Softball Program Comparison

Two D1 programs. BYU runs $23,943 less per year out of state; Florida graduates 10 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 BYU if…

  • You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: BYU lists $23,943 less per year in tuition and housing than Florida.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: BYU graduates earn about $4,202 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at BYU is $3,931 lower than at Florida.
  • Admissions is the part you are least sure about: BYU admits 68% of applicants.

Lean Florida if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Florida graduates 10 percentage points more of its students than BYU.
  • You want to play in June: Florida has reached 5 more NCAA tournaments than BYU since 2021.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Florida against none listed at BYU.
  • Academic reputation is part of the decision: U.S. News ranks Florida #27 against #68 for BYU.

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.

What it costs to go there: BYU compared with Florida
MeasureBYUFlorida
In-state tuition & fees$6,496$6,381
Out-of-state tuition & fees$6,496 BYU leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition$28,659
Room & board$9,720 BYU leads on this measure: lower room & board$11,500
Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$16,216 BYU leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost$17,881
Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$16,216 BYU leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost$40,159

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.

What you leave with: BYU compared with Florida
MeasureBYUFlorida
Graduation rate82%92% Florida leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$75,790/yr BYU leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$71,588/yr
Median debt at graduation$11,069 BYU leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door$15,000
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.15% BYU leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn21%

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: BYU compared with Florida
MeasureBYUFlorida
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.68%24%
U.S. News rankU.S. News Best Colleges 2026. Only ranked institutions appear.#68#27 Florida leads on this measure: ranked higher by U.S. News
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.35,07454,814
Where it isProvo, UTGainesville, FL

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.

The softball program itself: BYU compared with Florida
MeasureBYUFlorida
ConferenceBig 12SEC
NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only.1 of the last 6 tournaments6 of the last 6 tournaments (3 WCWS)
NCAA RPI#6
Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability.StrongElite
Head coachGordon EakinTim Walton
In the job since20142002

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.

How you actually get in front of them: BYU compared with Florida
MeasureBYUFlorida
Camps we track1 listed
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

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.

How D1 softball scholarships actually work →

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.

BYU

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

BYU vs Florida: common questions

Is BYU or Florida cheaper?
On published price, BYU is cheaper — about $16,216 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $40,159 at Florida. 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, BYU or Florida?
Florida, at 92% against 82% at BYU (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do BYU and Florida 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.
Do BYU and Florida run softball camps?
We track 1 camp at Florida and none currently listed at BYU. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at BYU and Florida?
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 BYU and Florida accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

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