Edward Waters vs Montevallo: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Edward Waters runs $14,610 less per year out of state; Montevallo graduates 21 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 Edward Waters if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Edward Waters lists $14,610 less per year in tuition and housing than Montevallo.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Edward Waters admits 85% of applicants.
Lean Montevallo if…
- You would be in-state: Montevallo is $1,168 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Edward Waters.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Montevallo graduates 21 percentage points more of its students than Edward Waters.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Montevallo graduates earn about $8,175 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Montevallo against none listed at Edward Waters.
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 | Edward Waters | Montevallo |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $14,878 | $13,710 — Montevallo leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $14,878 — Edward Waters leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $26,730 |
| Room & board | $8,010 — Edward Waters leads on this measure: lower room & board | $10,768 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $22,888 — Edward Waters leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $24,478 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $22,888 — Edward Waters leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $37,498 |
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 | Edward Waters | Montevallo |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 28% | 49% — Montevallo leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $34,782/yr | $42,957/yr — Montevallo leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | — | $24,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | — | 56% |
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 | Edward Waters | Montevallo |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 85% | 54% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,175 | 2,942 |
| Where it is | Jacksonville, FL | Montevallo, AL |
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 | Edward Waters | Montevallo |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SIAC | GSC |
| Head coach | Mike Ellison | Beth Wade |
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 | Edward Waters | Montevallo |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| 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. 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.
Edward Waters
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.
Montevallo
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Softball Camp08/01/2026 · 8th Grade - College Sophomore · $75
Edward Waters vs Montevallo: common questions
- Is Edward Waters or Montevallo cheaper?
- On published price, Edward Waters is cheaper — about $22,888 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $37,498 at Montevallo. 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, Edward Waters or Montevallo?
- Montevallo, at 49% against 28% at Edward Waters (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Edward Waters and Montevallo 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.
- Do Edward Waters and Montevallo run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Montevallo and none currently listed at Edward Waters. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Edward Waters and Montevallo?
- 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 Edward Waters and Montevallo accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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