Fort Valley State vs Valdosta State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Fort Valley State runs $1,498 less per year out of state; Fort Valley State graduates 3 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 Fort Valley State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Fort Valley State lists $1,498 less per year in tuition and housing than Valdosta State.
- You would be in-state: Fort Valley State is $615 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Valdosta State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Fort Valley State graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Valdosta State.
Lean Valdosta State if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Valdosta State graduates earn about $12,695 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Valdosta State is $6,221 lower than at Fort Valley State.
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 Valley State | Valdosta State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $5,392 — Fort Valley State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $6,007 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $16,114 — Fort Valley State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $17,062 |
| Room & board | $8,372 — Fort Valley State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $8,922 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $13,764 — Fort Valley State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $14,929 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $24,486 — Fort Valley State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $25,984 |
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 Valley State | Valdosta State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 45% — Fort Valley State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 42% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $36,666/yr | $49,361/yr — Valdosta State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $31,000 | $24,779 — Valdosta State 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. | 85% | 50% — Valdosta State 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 | Fort Valley State | Valdosta State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 66% | 72% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,763 | 10,151 |
| Where it is | Fort Valley, GA | Valdosta, GA |
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 Valley State | Valdosta State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SIAC | GSC |
| Head coach | Marlon Watson | Thomas Macera |
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 Valley State | Valdosta State |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Fort Valley State
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.
Valdosta State
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.
Fort Valley State vs Valdosta State: common questions
- Is Fort Valley State or Valdosta State cheaper?
- On published price, Fort Valley State is cheaper — about $24,486 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $25,984 at Valdosta 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, Fort Valley State or Valdosta State?
- Fort Valley State, at 45% against 42% at Valdosta State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Fort Valley State and Valdosta State 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.
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 Valley State and Valdosta State 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.
Start free