Francis Marion vs UVA Wise: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Francis Marion runs $10,103 less per year out of state; UVA Wise graduates 4 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 Francis Marion if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Francis Marion lists $10,103 less per year in tuition and housing than UVA Wise.
- You would be in-state: Francis Marion is $620 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than UVA Wise.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Francis Marion admits 86% of applicants.
Lean UVA Wise if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: UVA Wise graduates 4 percentage points more of its students than Francis Marion.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: UVA Wise graduates earn about $1,437 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at UVA Wise is $10,250 lower than at Francis Marion.
- Your transcript is a strength: UVA Wise admits 29% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board 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 | Francis Marion | UVA Wise |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $11,160 — Francis Marion leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $11,780 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $21,544 — Francis Marion leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $28,010 |
| Room & board | $8,898 — Francis Marion leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,535 |
| Est. in-state year, all in | $20,058 — Francis Marion leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $24,315 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $30,442 — Francis Marion leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $40,545 |
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 | Francis Marion | UVA Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 43% | 47% — UVA Wise leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $43,888/yr | $45,325/yr — UVA Wise leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 | $16,750 — UVA Wise 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. | 62% | 37% — UVA Wise 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 | Francis Marion | UVA Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 86% | 29% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,017 | 1,911 |
| Where it is | Florence, SC | Wise, VA |
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 | Francis Marion | UVA Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CC | SAC |
| Head coach | Stacey Vallee | Taylor Segorski |
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 | Francis Marion | UVA Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Francis Marion
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.
UVA Wise
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.
Francis Marion vs UVA Wise: common questions
- Is Francis Marion or UVA Wise cheaper?
- On published price, Francis Marion is cheaper — about $30,442 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $40,545 at UVA Wise. 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, Francis Marion or UVA Wise?
- UVA Wise, at 47% against 43% at Francis Marion (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Francis Marion and UVA Wise 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 Francis Marion and UVA Wise?
- 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.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). 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 Francis Marion and UVA Wise accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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