Georgia Tech vs Penn State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Georgia Tech runs $7,582 less per year out of state; Georgia Tech graduates 6 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 Tech if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Georgia Tech lists $7,582 less per year in tuition and housing than Penn State.
- You would be in-state: Georgia Tech is $8,470 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Penn State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Georgia Tech graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Penn State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Georgia Tech graduates earn about $39,337 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Penn State if…
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Penn State admits 61% of applicants.
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 Tech | Penn State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $11,764 — Georgia Tech leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $20,234 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $32,876 — Georgia Tech leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $40,188 |
| Room & board | $12,760 | $13,030 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $24,524 — Georgia Tech leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $33,264 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $45,636 — Georgia Tech leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $53,218 |
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 Tech | Penn State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 92% — Georgia Tech leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 86% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $102,772/yr — Georgia Tech leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $63,435/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,672 — Georgia Tech leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 21% — Georgia Tech leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 39% |
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 Tech | Penn State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 14% | 61% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 47,946 | 50,399 |
| Where it is | Atlanta, GA | University Park, PA |
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 Tech | Penn State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | ACC | Big Ten |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 3 of the last 6 tournaments | 1 of the last 6 tournaments |
| NCAA RPI | #37 | — |
| Head coach | Aileen Morales | Clarisa Crowell |
| In the job since | 2018 | — |
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 Tech | Penn State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Georgia Tech
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.
Penn 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.
Georgia Tech vs Penn State: common questions
- Is Georgia Tech or Penn State cheaper?
- On published price, Georgia Tech is cheaper — about $45,636 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $53,218 at Penn 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, Georgia Tech or Penn State?
- Georgia Tech, at 92% against 86% at Penn State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Georgia Tech and Penn 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Georgia Tech and Penn 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 Georgia Tech and Penn State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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