Chadron State vs Minot State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Minot State runs $634 less per year; Minot State 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 Chadron State if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Chadron State is $734 lower than at Minot State.
Lean Minot State if…
- The number on the bill matters: Minot State lists $634 less per year in tuition and housing than Chadron State, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Minot State graduates 10 percentage points more of its students than Chadron State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Minot State graduates earn about $4,757 more per year a decade after enrolling.
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 | Chadron State | Minot State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $8,078 — Chadron State leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $8,634 |
| Room & board | $9,248 | $8,058 — Minot State leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $17,326 | $16,692 — Minot State 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 | Chadron State | Minot State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 38% | 48% — Minot State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $47,002/yr | $51,759/yr — Minot State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,875 — Chadron State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $19,609 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 40% | 38% — Minot State 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 | Chadron State | Minot State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 65% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,205 | 2,741 |
| Where it is | Chadron, NE | Minot, ND |
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 | Chadron State | Minot State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | RMAC | NSIC |
| Head coach | Skye Koehl | Sal Rodriguez |
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 | Chadron State | Minot State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Chadron 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.
Minot 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.
Chadron State vs Minot State: common questions
- Is Chadron State or Minot State cheaper?
- On published price, Minot State is cheaper — about $16,692 a year in tuition and housing, against $17,326 at Chadron State. 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, Chadron State or Minot State?
- Minot State, at 48% against 38% at Chadron State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Chadron State and Minot State 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Chadron State and Minot State?
- 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 Chadron State and Minot State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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