Dakota State vs Dickinson State: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs in the FRON. Dickinson State runs $2,767 less per year out of state; Dakota State graduates 6 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 Dakota State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Dakota State graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Dickinson State.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Dakota State admits 88% of applicants.
Lean Dickinson State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Dickinson State lists $2,767 less per year in tuition and housing than Dakota State.
- You would be in-state: Dickinson State is $515 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Dakota State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Dickinson State is $5,058 lower than at Dakota State.
- Your transcript is a strength: Dickinson State admits 37% 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 | Dakota State | Dickinson State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,633 | $9,118 — Dickinson State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $12,735 | $11,218 — Dickinson State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $8,990 | $7,740 — Dickinson State leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,623 | $16,858 — Dickinson State 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. | $21,725 | $18,958 — Dickinson State 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 | Dakota State | Dickinson State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 49% — Dakota State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 43% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $50,970/yr | $50,720/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,500 | $18,442 — Dickinson State 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. | 46% | 36% — Dickinson 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 | Dakota State | Dickinson State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 88% | 37% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,508 | 1,453 |
| Where it is | Madison, SD | Dickinson, 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 | Dakota State | Dickinson State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Hunter Lambdin | Kristen Fleury |
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 | Dakota State | Dickinson State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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.
Dakota 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.
Dickinson 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.
Dakota State vs Dickinson State: common questions
- Is Dakota State or Dickinson State cheaper?
- On published price, Dickinson State is cheaper — about $18,958 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $21,725 at Dakota 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, Dakota State or Dickinson State?
- Dakota State, at 49% against 43% at Dickinson State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Dakota State and Dickinson State 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 Dakota State and Dickinson 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 Dakota State and Dickinson State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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