Dickinson State vs IU South Bend: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Dickinson State runs $17,169 less per year out of state; Dickinson State graduates 11 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 Dickinson State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Dickinson State lists $17,169 less per year in tuition and housing than IU South Bend.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Dickinson State graduates 11 percentage points more of its students than IU South Bend.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Dickinson State graduates earn about $5,773 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Dickinson State is $2,913 lower than at IU South Bend.
Lean IU South Bend if…
- You would be in-state: IU South Bend is $694 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Dickinson State.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: IU South Bend admits 84% of applicants.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board 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 | Dickinson State | IU South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,118 | $8,424 — IU South Bend leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $9,118 — Dickinson State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $22,811 |
| Room & board | $7,740 — Dickinson State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,216 |
| Est. in-state year, all in | $16,858 — Dickinson State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $19,640 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $16,858 — Dickinson State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $34,027 |
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 | Dickinson State | IU South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 51% — Dickinson State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 40% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $50,720/yr — Dickinson State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $44,947/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,442 — Dickinson State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $21,355 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 36% — Dickinson State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 48% |
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 | Dickinson State | IU South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 37% | 84% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,453 | 4,446 |
| Where it is | Dickinson, ND | South Bend, IN |
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 | Dickinson State | IU South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | FRON | CCAC |
| Head coach | Kristen Fleury | Annie Dehnke |
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 | Dickinson State | IU South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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.
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.
IU South Bend
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 vs IU South Bend: common questions
- Is Dickinson State or IU South Bend cheaper?
- On published price, Dickinson State is cheaper — about $16,858 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $34,027 at IU South Bend. 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, Dickinson State or IU South Bend?
- Dickinson State, at 51% against 40% at IU South Bend (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Dickinson State and IU South Bend 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 Dickinson State and IU South Bend?
- 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.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). 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 Dickinson State and IU South Bend accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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