Coastal Carolina vs Tennessee: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Coastal Carolina runs $3,428 less per year out of state; Tennessee graduates 22 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 Coastal Carolina if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Coastal Carolina lists $3,428 less per year in tuition and housing than Tennessee.
- You would be in-state: Coastal Carolina is $1,844 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Tennessee.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Coastal Carolina graduates earn about $3,045 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Coastal Carolina against none listed at Tennessee.
Lean Tennessee if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Tennessee graduates 22 percentage points more of its students than Coastal Carolina.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Tennessee is $2,726 lower than at Coastal Carolina.
- You want to play in June: Tennessee has reached 5 more NCAA tournaments than Coastal Carolina since 2021.
- You want the stronger program on paper: Tennessee rates strong against solid at Coastal Carolina.
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 | Coastal Carolina | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $11,640 — Coastal Carolina leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $13,484 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $29,628 — Coastal Carolina leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $31,974 |
| Room & board | $11,418 — Coastal Carolina leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,500 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $23,058 — Coastal Carolina leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $25,984 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $41,046 — Coastal Carolina leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $44,474 |
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 | Coastal Carolina | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 51% | 73% — Tennessee leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $47,258/yr — Coastal Carolina leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $44,213/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,750 | $21,024 — Tennessee 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. | 50% | 48% — Tennessee 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 | Coastal Carolina | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 75% | 88% |
| U.S. News rankU.S. News Best Colleges 2026. Only ranked institutions appear. | — | #80 |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 10,829 | 36,304 |
| Where it is | Conway, SC | Knoxville, TN |
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 | Coastal Carolina | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Sun Belt | SEC |
| Conference level | High Major | Power Conference |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 1 of the last 6 tournaments | 6 of the last 6 tournaments (3 WCWS) |
| NCAA RPI | — | #5 |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Solid | Strong |
| Recruiting difficultyHow hard it typically is to earn a roster spot here. | Competitive | Very Competitive |
| Head coach | Kelley Green | Karen Weekly |
| In the job since | — | 2018 |
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 | Coastal Carolina | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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.
Coastal Carolina
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- September Elite Prospect Camp09/19/2026 - 09/20/2026 · 8th Grade - College Sophomore · $250 - $350
Tennessee
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.
Coastal Carolina vs Tennessee: common questions
- Is Coastal Carolina or Tennessee cheaper?
- On published price, Coastal Carolina is cheaper — about $41,046 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $44,474 at Tennessee. 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, Coastal Carolina or Tennessee?
- Tennessee, at 73% against 51% at Coastal Carolina (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Coastal Carolina and Tennessee 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.
- Which is harder to get recruited by?
- Tennessee rates very competitive against competitive at Coastal Carolina. This is an elite D1 program. Recruits typically have extensive travel ball experience, strong academics, and begin the recruiting process early.
- Do Coastal Carolina and Tennessee run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Coastal Carolina and none currently listed at Tennessee. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Coastal Carolina and Tennessee?
- 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 Coastal Carolina and Tennessee accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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