Fort Lewis vs Hawaii at Hilo: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Hawaii at Hilo runs $5,142 less per year out of state; Hawaii at Hilo graduates earn $1,507 more a decade out.
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 Fort Lewis if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Fort Lewis is $2,111 lower than at Hawaii at Hilo.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Fort Lewis admits 77% of applicants.
Lean Hawaii at Hilo if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Hawaii at Hilo lists $5,142 less per year in tuition and housing than Fort Lewis.
- You would be in-state: Hawaii at Hilo is $1,832 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Fort Lewis.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Hawaii at Hilo graduates earn about $1,507 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Your transcript is a strength: Hawaii at Hilo admits 61% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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 | Fort Lewis | Hawaii at Hilo |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,670 | $7,838 — Hawaii at Hilo leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $20,798 | $20,798 |
| Room & board | $13,390 | $8,248 — Hawaii at Hilo leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $23,060 | $16,086 — Hawaii at Hilo leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $34,188 | $29,046 — Hawaii at Hilo 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 | Fort Lewis | Hawaii at Hilo |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 43% | 42% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $46,349/yr | $47,856/yr — Hawaii at Hilo leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,389 — Fort Lewis leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $20,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 40% — Fort Lewis leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 43% |
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 | Fort Lewis | Hawaii at Hilo |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 77% | 61% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,413 | 2,781 |
| Where it is | Durango, CO | Hilo, HI |
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 | Fort Lewis | Hawaii at Hilo |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | RMAC | PacWest |
| Head coach | Paige Rhodes | Aisha Sueda |
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 | Fort Lewis | Hawaii at Hilo |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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.
Fort Lewis
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Hawaii at Hilo
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.
Fort Lewis vs Hawaii at Hilo: common questions
- Is Fort Lewis or Hawaii at Hilo cheaper?
- On published price, Hawaii at Hilo is cheaper — about $29,046 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $34,188 at Fort Lewis. 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, Fort Lewis or Hawaii at Hilo?
- Fort Lewis, at 43% against 42% at Hawaii at Hilo (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Fort Lewis and Hawaii at Hilo 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 Fort Lewis and Hawaii at Hilo?
- Hawaii at Hilo runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Fort Lewis, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 Fort Lewis and Hawaii at Hilo accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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