Dominican (IL) vs Ohio Northern: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Ohio Northern graduates 12 points more of its students; Ohio Northern graduates earn $20,601 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 Dominican (IL) if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Dominican (IL) is $2,589 lower than at Ohio Northern.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Dominican (IL) admits 90% of applicants.
Lean Ohio Northern if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Ohio Northern graduates 12 percentage points more of its students than Dominican (IL).
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Ohio Northern graduates earn about $20,601 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Your transcript is a strength: Ohio Northern admits 74% 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 | Dominican (IL) | Ohio Northern |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $37,844 | $37,800 |
| Room & board | $12,552 — Dominican (IL) leads on this measure: lower room & board | $13,200 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $50,396 | $51,000 |
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 | Dominican (IL) | Ohio Northern |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 62% | 74% — Ohio Northern leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $60,327/yr | $80,928/yr — Ohio Northern leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,411 — Dominican (IL) 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. | 40% | 33% — Ohio Northern 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 | Dominican (IL) | Ohio Northern |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 90% | 74% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,424 | 3,042 |
| Where it is | River Forest, IL | Ada, OH |
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 | Dominican (IL) | Ohio Northern |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | NACC | OAC |
| Head coach | Cristina Lukas | Summer Collins |
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 | Dominican (IL) | Ohio Northern |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
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.
Dominican (IL)
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.
Ohio Northern
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.
Dominican (IL) vs Ohio Northern: common questions
- Is Dominican (IL) or Ohio Northern cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $50,396 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, Dominican (IL) or Ohio Northern?
- Ohio Northern, at 74% against 62% at Dominican (IL) (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Dominican (IL) and Ohio Northern offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- How do I contact the coaches at Dominican (IL) and Ohio Northern?
- 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 Dominican (IL) and Ohio Northern 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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