Central Michigan vs Southern Illinois: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Southern Illinois runs $1,010 less per year; Central Michigan graduates 6 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 Central Michigan if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Central Michigan graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Southern Illinois.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Central Michigan graduates earn about $2,484 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Southern Illinois if…
- The number on the bill matters: Southern Illinois lists $1,010 less per year in tuition and housing than Central Michigan, and neither charges by residency.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Southern Illinois is $5,457 lower than at Central Michigan.
- You want to play in June: Southern Illinois has reached 3 more NCAA tournaments than Central Michigan since 2021.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Southern Illinois against none listed at Central Michigan.
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 | Central Michigan | Southern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $14,190 | $13,244 — Southern Illinois leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $12,178 | $12,114 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $26,368 | $25,358 — Southern Illinois leads on this measure: lower total cost per year |
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 | Central Michigan | Southern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 62% — Central Michigan leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 56% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $55,874/yr — Central Michigan leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $53,390/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 | $21,543 — Southern Illinois 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. | 48% | 40% — Southern Illinois 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 | Central Michigan | Southern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 90% | 87% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 14,399 | 11,359 |
| Where it is | Mount Pleasant, MI | Carbondale, 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 | Central Michigan | Southern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MAC | Missouri Valley |
| Conference level | Mid-Major | High Major |
| 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 | McCall Salmon | Jen Sewell |
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 | Central Michigan | Southern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed |
| 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. 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.
Central Michigan
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.
Southern Illinois
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
Central Michigan vs Southern Illinois: common questions
- Is Central Michigan or Southern Illinois cheaper?
- On published price, Southern Illinois is cheaper — about $25,358 a year in tuition and housing, against $26,368 at Central Michigan. 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, Central Michigan or Southern Illinois?
- Central Michigan, at 62% against 56% at Southern Illinois (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Central Michigan and Southern Illinois 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 Central Michigan and Southern Illinois run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Southern Illinois and none currently listed at Central Michigan. 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 Central Michigan and Southern Illinois accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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