Georgia Southwestern State vs Valdosta State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Georgia Southwestern State lists $1,360 less in out-of-state tuition; Valdosta State graduates 10 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 Georgia Southwestern State if…
- You would be in-state: Georgia Southwestern State is $1,027 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Valdosta State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Georgia Southwestern State is $5,928 lower than at Valdosta State.
Lean Valdosta State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Valdosta State graduates 10 percentage points more of its students than Georgia Southwestern 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 | Georgia Southwestern State | Valdosta State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $4,980 — Georgia Southwestern State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $6,007 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $15,702 — Georgia Southwestern State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $17,062 |
| Room & board | $9,574 | $8,922 — Valdosta State leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $14,554 | $14,929 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $25,276 | $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 | Georgia Southwestern State | Valdosta State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 32% | 42% — Valdosta State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $48,757/yr | $49,361/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,851 — Georgia Southwestern State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $24,779 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 39% — Georgia Southwestern State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 50% |
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 | Georgia Southwestern State | Valdosta State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 75% | 72% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,408 | 10,151 |
| Where it is | Americus, 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 | Georgia Southwestern State | Valdosta State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | PBC | GSC |
| Head coach | Emma Johansen | 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 | Georgia Southwestern State | Valdosta State |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Georgia Southwestern 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.
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.
Georgia Southwestern State vs Valdosta State: common questions
- Is Georgia Southwestern State or Valdosta State cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $25,276 a year out of state in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Georgia Southwestern State or Valdosta State?
- Valdosta State, at 42% against 32% at Georgia Southwestern State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Georgia Southwestern 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Georgia Southwestern State and Valdosta State?
- Georgia Southwestern State runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Valdosta State, 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 Georgia Southwestern State and Valdosta State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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