Dordt vs Indiana Wesleyan: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Indiana Wesleyan runs $5,668 less per year; Indiana Wesleyan graduates earn $7,427 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 Dordt if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Dordt is $2,750 lower than at Indiana Wesleyan.
- Your transcript is a strength: Dordt admits 68% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Indiana Wesleyan if…
- The number on the bill matters: Indiana Wesleyan lists $5,668 less per year in tuition and housing than Dordt, and neither charges by residency.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Indiana Wesleyan graduates earn about $7,427 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Indiana Wesleyan against none listed at Dordt.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Indiana Wesleyan admits 89% of applicants.
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 | Dordt | Indiana Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $35,960 | $31,168 — Indiana Wesleyan leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $11,430 | $10,554 — Indiana Wesleyan leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $47,390 | $41,722 — Indiana Wesleyan leads on this measure: lower total cost per year |
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 | Dordt | Indiana Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 65% | 66% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $52,559/yr | $59,986/yr — Indiana Wesleyan leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 — Dordt leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $24,250 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 41% | 40% |
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 | Dordt | Indiana Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 68% | 89% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,929 | 2,207 |
| Where it is | Sioux Center, IA | Marion, 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 | Dordt | Indiana Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GPAC | CROSS |
| Head coach | Jeff Zomer | Kelsey Kooistra |
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 | Dordt | Indiana Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 3 listed (3 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.
Dordt
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.
Indiana Wesleyan
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- High School Prospect Camp | August 15th08/15/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $85 - $200
- IWU Softball Spotlight Day | September 21st09/21/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $140
- IWU Softball Spotlight Day | October 19th10/19/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $140
Dordt vs Indiana Wesleyan: common questions
- Is Dordt or Indiana Wesleyan cheaper?
- On published price, Indiana Wesleyan is cheaper — about $41,722 a year in tuition and housing, against $47,390 at Dordt. 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, Dordt or Indiana Wesleyan?
- Indiana Wesleyan, at 66% against 65% at Dordt (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Dordt and Indiana Wesleyan 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 Dordt and Indiana Wesleyan run softball camps?
- We track 3 camps at Indiana Wesleyan and none currently listed at Dordt. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Dordt and Indiana Wesleyan?
- 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 Dordt and Indiana Wesleyan accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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