Dakota State vs Valley City State: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs in the FRON. Valley City State runs $967 less per year out of state; Valley City State graduates earn $1,755 more a decade out.
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…
- Your transcript is a strength: Dakota State admits 88% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Valley City State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Valley City State lists $967 less per year in tuition and housing than Dakota State.
- You would be in-state: Valley City State is $1,119 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Dakota State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Valley City State graduates earn about $1,755 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Valley City State is $3,131 lower than at Dakota State.
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 | Valley City State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,633 | $8,514 — Valley City State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $12,735 — Dakota State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $13,478 |
| Room & board | $8,990 | $7,280 — Valley City 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 | $15,794 — Valley City 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 | $20,758 — Valley City 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 | Valley City State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 49% | 48% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $50,970/yr | $52,725/yr — Valley City State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,500 | $20,369 — Valley City 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% | 39% — Valley City 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 | Valley City State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 88% | 99% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,508 | 1,754 |
| Where it is | Madison, SD | Valley City, 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 | Valley City State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Hunter Lambdin | Matt Gable |
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 | Valley City State |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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. 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.
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.
Valley City State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Viking Prospect Games08/06/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $100
Dakota State vs Valley City State: common questions
- Is Dakota State or Valley City State cheaper?
- On published price, Valley City State is cheaper — about $20,758 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 Valley City State?
- Dakota State, at 49% against 48% at Valley City State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Dakota State and Valley City 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.
- Do Dakota State and Valley City State run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Valley City State and none currently listed at Dakota State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Dakota State and Valley City 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 Valley City State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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