Culver-Stockton vs Dakota Wesleyan: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Culver-Stockton lists $2,975 less in tuition; Culver-Stockton graduates 4 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 Culver-Stockton if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Culver-Stockton graduates 4 percentage points more of its students than Dakota Wesleyan.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Culver-Stockton is $1,000 lower than at Dakota Wesleyan.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Culver-Stockton admits 99% of applicants.
Lean Dakota Wesleyan if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Dakota Wesleyan graduates earn about $7,636 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Your transcript is a strength: Dakota Wesleyan admits 73% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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 | Culver-Stockton | Dakota Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $29,915 — Culver-Stockton leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $32,890 |
| Room & board | $9,505 | $7,600 — Dakota Wesleyan leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $39,420 | $40,490 |
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 | Culver-Stockton | Dakota Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 50% — Culver-Stockton leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 46% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $46,092/yr | $53,728/yr — Dakota Wesleyan leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 — Culver-Stockton 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. | 56% | 50% — Dakota Wesleyan 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 | Culver-Stockton | Dakota Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 99% | 73% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,069 | 886 |
| Where it is | Canton, MO | Mitchell, SD |
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 | Culver-Stockton | Dakota Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | HAAC | GPAC |
| Head coach | Rod Radcliffe | Stephen Oswald Jr. |
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 | Culver-Stockton | Dakota Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NAIA, so the scholarship rules are identical: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic 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.
Culver-Stockton
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.
Dakota Wesleyan
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.
Culver-Stockton vs Dakota Wesleyan: common questions
- Is Culver-Stockton or Dakota Wesleyan cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $39,420 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Culver-Stockton or Dakota Wesleyan?
- Culver-Stockton, at 50% against 46% at Dakota Wesleyan (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Culver-Stockton and Dakota Wesleyan offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NAIA: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Culver-Stockton and Dakota Wesleyan?
- 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 Culver-Stockton and Dakota Wesleyan accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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