Carroll vs North Central: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the CCIW. Carroll runs $6,258 less per year; North Central graduates earn $2,114 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 Carroll if…
- The number on the bill matters: Carroll lists $6,258 less per year in tuition and housing than North Central, and neither charges by residency.
- Your transcript is a strength: Carroll admits 67% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean North Central if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: North Central graduates earn about $2,114 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at North Central is $2,500 lower than at Carroll.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: North Central admits 77% of applicants.
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 | Carroll | North Central |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $37,230 — Carroll leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $44,394 |
| Room & board | $13,340 | $12,434 — North Central leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $50,570 — Carroll leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $56,828 |
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 | Carroll | North Central |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 70% | 71% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $58,009/yr | $60,123/yr — North Central leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 | $24,500 — North Central 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. | 47% | 41% — North Central 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 | Carroll | North Central |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 67% | 77% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,176 | 2,856 |
| Where it is | Waukesha, WI | Naperville, IL |
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 | Carroll | North Central |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Ericka Hess | Venus Taylor |
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 | Carroll | North Central |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Carroll
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.
North Central
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.
Carroll vs North Central: common questions
- Is Carroll or North Central cheaper?
- On published price, Carroll is cheaper — about $50,570 a year in tuition and housing, against $56,828 at North Central. 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, Carroll or North Central?
- North Central, at 71% against 70% at Carroll (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Carroll and North Central 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 Carroll and North Central?
- 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 Carroll and North Central accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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