Concord vs Francis Marion: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Francis Marion runs $2,272 less per year out of state.
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 Concord if…
- You would be in-state: Concord is $1,460 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Francis Marion.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Concord is $8,100 lower than at Francis Marion.
Lean Francis Marion if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Francis Marion lists $2,272 less per year in tuition and housing than Concord.
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 | Concord | Francis Marion |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,700 — Concord leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $11,160 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $20,600 — Concord leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $21,544 |
| Room & board | $12,114 | $8,898 — Francis Marion leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $21,814 | $20,058 — Francis Marion leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $32,714 | $30,442 — Francis Marion leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
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 | Concord | Francis Marion |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 42% | 43% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $42,703/yr | $43,888/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,900 — Concord leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $27,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 44% — Concord leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 62% |
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 | Concord | Francis Marion |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 93% | 86% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,798 | 4,017 |
| Where it is | Athens, WV | Florence, SC |
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 | Concord | Francis Marion |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MEC | CC |
| Head coach | Alisa Tasler | Stacey Vallee |
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 | Concord | Francis Marion |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Concord
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.
Francis Marion
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.
Concord vs Francis Marion: common questions
- Is Concord or Francis Marion cheaper?
- On published price, Francis Marion is cheaper — about $30,442 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $32,714 at Concord. 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, Concord or Francis Marion?
- Francis Marion, at 43% against 42% at Concord (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Concord and Francis Marion 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 Concord and Francis Marion?
- Francis Marion runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Concord, 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 Concord and Francis Marion accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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