Dickinson State vs Mayville State: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs in the FRON. Mayville State lists $1,654 less in out-of-state tuition; Dickinson State graduates 3 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…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Dickinson State graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Mayville State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Dickinson State graduates earn about $2,892 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Mayville State if…
- You would be in-state: Mayville State is $1,183 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Dickinson 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 | Dickinson State | Mayville State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,118 | $7,935 — Mayville State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $11,218 | $9,564 — Mayville State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $7,740 — Dickinson State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $9,088 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $16,858 | $17,023 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,958 | $18,652 |
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 | Mayville State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 43% — 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 | $47,828/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,442 | $18,585 |
| 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 | 39% |
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 | Mayville State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 37% | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,453 | 1,025 |
| Where it is | Dickinson, ND | Mayville, 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 | Dickinson State | Mayville State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kristen Fleury | Jordan Olson |
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 | Mayville 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.
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.
Mayville 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 vs Mayville State: common questions
- Is Dickinson State or Mayville State cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $18,958 a year out of state 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, Dickinson State or Mayville State?
- Dickinson State, at 43% against 40% at Mayville State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Dickinson State and Mayville 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 Dickinson State and Mayville 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 Dickinson State and Mayville 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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