Carson-Newman vs Nova Southeastern: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Carson-Newman runs $7,823 less per year; Nova Southeastern graduates 18 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 Carson-Newman if…
- The number on the bill matters: Carson-Newman lists $7,823 less per year in tuition and housing than Nova Southeastern, and neither charges by residency.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Carson-Newman is $2,750 lower than at Nova Southeastern.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Carson-Newman admits 90% of applicants.
Lean Nova Southeastern if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Nova Southeastern graduates 18 percentage points more of its students than Carson-Newman.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Nova Southeastern graduates earn about $10,827 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Nova Southeastern against none listed at Carson-Newman.
- Your transcript is a strength: Nova Southeastern admits 73% 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 | Carson-Newman | Nova Southeastern |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $34,700 — Carson-Newman leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $37,080 |
| Room & board | $10,507 — Carson-Newman leads on this measure: lower room & board | $15,950 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $45,207 — Carson-Newman leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $53,030 |
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 | Carson-Newman | Nova Southeastern |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 46% | 64% — Nova Southeastern leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $48,382/yr | $59,209/yr — Nova Southeastern leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 — Carson-Newman leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $24,250 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 44% | 41% — Nova Southeastern 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 | Carson-Newman | Nova Southeastern |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 90% | 73% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,735 | 20,877 |
| Where it is | Jefferson City, TN | Fort Lauderdale, 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.
| Measure | Carson-Newman | Nova Southeastern |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SAC | SSC |
| Head coach | Michael Graves | Julie LeMaire |
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 | Carson-Newman | Nova Southeastern |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | 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.
Carson-Newman
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Nova Southeastern
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
Carson-Newman vs Nova Southeastern: common questions
- Is Carson-Newman or Nova Southeastern cheaper?
- On published price, Carson-Newman is cheaper — about $45,207 a year in tuition and housing, against $53,030 at Nova Southeastern. 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, Carson-Newman or Nova Southeastern?
- Nova Southeastern, at 64% against 46% at Carson-Newman (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Carson-Newman and Nova Southeastern 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 Carson-Newman and Nova Southeastern run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Nova Southeastern and none currently listed at Carson-Newman. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
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 Carson-Newman and Nova Southeastern accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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