East Tennessee State vs Southern Mississippi: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Southern Mississippi runs $778 less per year out of state.
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 East Tennessee State if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at East Tennessee State is $3,058 lower than at Southern Mississippi.
- Your transcript is a strength: East Tennessee State admits 86% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Southern Mississippi if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Southern Mississippi lists $778 less per year in tuition and housing than East Tennessee State.
- You would be in-state: Southern Mississippi is $332 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than East Tennessee State.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Southern Mississippi admits 99% 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 | East Tennessee State | Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,950 | $9,618 — Southern Mississippi leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $13,790 | $11,618 — Southern Mississippi leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $10,270 — East Tennessee State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,664 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $20,220 — East Tennessee State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $21,282 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $24,060 | $23,282 — Southern Mississippi leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
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 | East Tennessee State | Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 50% | 51% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $44,859/yr | $44,140/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,442 — East Tennessee State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $22,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 43% — East Tennessee State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 51% |
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 | East Tennessee State | Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 86% | 99% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 13,586 | 13,110 |
| Where it is | Johnson City, TN | Hattiesburg, MS |
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 | East Tennessee State | Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Southern | Sun Belt |
| Conference level | Mid-Major | High Major |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Cheryl Milligan | Natalie Poole |
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 | East Tennessee State | Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
East Tennessee State
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.
Southern Mississippi
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.
East Tennessee State vs Southern Mississippi: common questions
- Is East Tennessee State or Southern Mississippi cheaper?
- On published price, Southern Mississippi is cheaper — about $23,282 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $24,060 at East Tennessee State. 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, East Tennessee State or Southern Mississippi?
- Southern Mississippi, at 51% against 50% at East Tennessee State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do East Tennessee State and Southern Mississippi 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at East Tennessee State and Southern Mississippi?
- 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 East Tennessee State and Southern Mississippi 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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