Chowan vs Lees-McRae: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the CC. Chowan runs $8,050 less per year; Lees-McRae graduates 15 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 Chowan if…
- The number on the bill matters: Chowan lists $8,050 less per year in tuition and housing than Lees-McRae, and neither charges by residency.
Lean Lees-McRae if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Lees-McRae graduates 15 percentage points more of its students than Chowan.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Lees-McRae graduates earn about $5,003 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Lees-McRae is $12,116 lower than at Chowan.
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 | Chowan | Lees-McRae |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $27,110 — Chowan leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $31,140 |
| Room & board | $9,710 — Chowan leads on this measure: lower room & board | $13,730 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $36,820 — Chowan leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $44,870 |
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 | Chowan | Lees-McRae |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 29% | 44% — Lees-McRae leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $38,412/yr | $43,415/yr — Lees-McRae leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $29,491 | $17,375 — Lees-McRae 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. | 77% | 40% — Lees-McRae 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 | Chowan | Lees-McRae |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 69% | 77% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 708 | 839 |
| Where it is | Murfreesboro, NC | Banner Elk, NC |
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 | Chowan | Lees-McRae |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Junior Bailey | Josh Bumgarner |
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 | Chowan | Lees-McRae |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Chowan
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.
Lees-McRae
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.
Chowan vs Lees-McRae: common questions
- Is Chowan or Lees-McRae cheaper?
- On published price, Chowan is cheaper — about $36,820 a year in tuition and housing, against $44,870 at Lees-McRae. 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, Chowan or Lees-McRae?
- Lees-McRae, at 44% against 29% at Chowan (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Chowan and Lees-McRae 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 Chowan and Lees-McRae?
- Lees-McRae runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Chowan, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 Chowan and Lees-McRae accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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