Drake vs Tulsa: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Tulsa runs $2,008 less per year; Drake graduates 4 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 Drake if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Drake graduates 4 percentage points more of its students than Tulsa.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Drake graduates earn about $10,493 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Tulsa if…
- The number on the bill matters: Tulsa lists $2,008 less per year in tuition and housing than Drake, and neither charges by residency.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Tulsa is $1,500 lower than at Drake.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 4 camps at Tulsa against 3 at Drake.
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 | Drake | Tulsa |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $49,944 | $48,602 |
| Room & board | $11,858 | $11,192 — Tulsa leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $61,802 | $59,794 — Tulsa 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 | Drake | Tulsa |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 77% — Drake leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 73% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $71,901/yr — Drake leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $61,408/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 | $21,500 — Tulsa 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. | 32% — Drake leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 35% |
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 | Drake | Tulsa |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 64% | 62% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,504 | 3,559 |
| Where it is | Des Moines, IA | Tulsa, OK |
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 | Drake | Tulsa |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Missouri Valley | American |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Lindsay Diehl | DJ Gasso |
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 | Drake | Tulsa |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 3 listed (3 with dates) | 4 listed (4 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
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.
Drake
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- August Prospect CampAugust 22nd, 2026 · 8th - College Junior Grade as of Fall 20 · Register
- Junior Bulldogs CampAugust 29th, 2026 · 3rd - 7th Grade as of Fall 2026 · Register
- September Prospect CampSeptember 26th, 2026 · 8th - College Junior Grade as of Fall 20 · Register
Tulsa
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Pitching Clinic | March 16th03/16/2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2025 · $59.00
- Pitching Clinic | March 23rd03/23/2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2025 · $59.00
- Pitching Clinic | March 30th03/30/2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2025 · $59.00
- Tulsa Softball Elite Prospect Camp08/23/2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · $223.00
Drake vs Tulsa: common questions
- Is Drake or Tulsa cheaper?
- On published price, Tulsa is cheaper — about $59,794 a year in tuition and housing, against $61,802 at Drake. 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, Drake or Tulsa?
- Drake, at 77% against 73% at Tulsa (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Drake and Tulsa offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
- Do Drake and Tulsa run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 3 at Drake and 4 at Tulsa. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
- How do I contact the coaches at Drake and Tulsa?
- 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 Drake and Tulsa accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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