Drury vs Newman: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Newman runs $1,452 less per year; Drury graduates 9 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 Drury if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Drury graduates 9 percentage points more of its students than Newman.
- Your transcript is a strength: Drury admits 58% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Newman if…
- The number on the bill matters: Newman lists $1,452 less per year in tuition and housing than Drury, and neither charges by residency.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Newman graduates earn about $14,347 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Newman admits 74% 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 | Drury | Newman |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $36,745 | $35,500 — Newman leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $10,486 | $10,279 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $47,231 | $45,779 — Newman 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 | Drury | Newman |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 62% — Drury leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 53% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $40,694/yr | $55,041/yr — Newman leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,979 | $20,801 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 52% | 38% — Newman 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 | Drury | Newman |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 58% | 74% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,596 | 2,787 |
| Where it is | Springfield, MO | Wichita, KS |
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 | Drury | Newman |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GLVC | MIAA |
| Head coach | Brooke Gajewski | Brittany Henning |
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 | Drury | Newman |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based 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.
Drury
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.
Newman
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.
Drury vs Newman: common questions
- Is Drury or Newman cheaper?
- On published price, Newman is cheaper — about $45,779 a year in tuition and housing, against $47,231 at Drury. 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, Drury or Newman?
- Drury, at 62% against 53% at Newman (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Drury and Newman offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Drury and Newman?
- 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 Drury and Newman accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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