Florida vs Florida State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Florida State runs $8,633 less per year out of state; Florida 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 Florida if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Florida graduates 9 percentage points more of its students than Florida State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Florida graduates earn about $9,913 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Florida is $3,000 lower than at Florida State.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Florida against none listed at Florida State.
Lean Florida State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Florida State lists $8,633 less per year in tuition and housing than Florida.
- You would be in-state: Florida State is $725 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Florida.
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 | Florida State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $6,381 | $5,656 — Florida State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $28,659 | $18,786 — Florida State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $11,500 — Florida leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,740 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $17,881 | $18,396 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $40,159 | $31,526 — Florida State 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 | Florida State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 92% — Florida leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 83% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $71,588/yr — Florida leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $61,675/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 — Florida leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $18,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 21% — Florida leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 29% |
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 | Florida State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 24% | 24% |
| U.S. News rankU.S. News Best Colleges 2026. Only ranked institutions appear. | #27 | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 54,814 | 43,234 |
| Where it is | Gainesville, FL | Tallahassee, 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 | Florida State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SEC | ACC |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 6 of the last 6 tournaments (3 WCWS) | 6 of the last 6 tournaments (2 WCWS) |
| NCAA RPI | #6 | — |
| Head coach | Tim Walton | Lonni Alameda |
| In the job since | 2002 | 2009 |
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 | Florida State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed | — |
| 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.
Florida 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.
Florida vs Florida State: common questions
- Is Florida or Florida State cheaper?
- On published price, Florida State is cheaper — about $31,526 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $40,159 at Florida. 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 or Florida State?
- Florida, at 92% against 83% at Florida State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Florida and Florida State 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 Florida and Florida State run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Florida and none currently listed at Florida State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Florida and Florida State?
- 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 and Florida State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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