Florida Gulf Coast vs North Florida: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs in the ASUN. North Florida runs $4,373 less per year out of state; North Florida graduates 12 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 Florida Gulf Coast if…
- You would be in-state: Florida Gulf Coast is $271 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than North Florida.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Florida Gulf Coast admits 63% of applicants.
Lean North Florida if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: North Florida lists $4,373 less per year in tuition and housing than Florida Gulf Coast.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: North Florida graduates 12 percentage points more of its students than Florida Gulf Coast.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: North Florida graduates earn about $1,783 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at North Florida is $2,091 lower than at Florida Gulf Coast.
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 | Florida Gulf Coast | North Florida |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $6,118 — Florida Gulf Coast leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $6,389 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $25,162 | $20,793 — North Florida leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $10,914 | $10,910 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $17,032 | $17,299 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $36,076 | $31,703 — North Florida 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 | Florida Gulf Coast | North Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 56% | 68% — North Florida leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $54,560/yr | $56,343/yr — North Florida leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,622 | $15,531 — North Florida 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% | 28% — North Florida 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 | Florida Gulf Coast | North Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 63% | 53% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 16,167 | 16,453 |
| Where it is | Fort Myers, FL | Jacksonville, FL |
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 | Florida Gulf Coast | North Florida |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 1 of the last 6 tournaments | 1 of the last 6 tournaments |
| Head coach | Lindsay Fico | Jeff Conrad |
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 | Florida Gulf Coast | North Florida |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Florida Gulf Coast
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.
North Florida
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.
Florida Gulf Coast vs North Florida: common questions
- Is Florida Gulf Coast or North Florida cheaper?
- On published price, North Florida is cheaper — about $31,703 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $36,076 at Florida Gulf Coast. 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, Florida Gulf Coast or North Florida?
- North Florida, at 68% against 56% at Florida Gulf Coast (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Florida Gulf Coast and North Florida 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 Florida Gulf Coast and North Florida?
- 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 Florida Gulf Coast and North Florida accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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