Grand Canyon vs Texas State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Grand Canyon runs $6,868 less per year out of state; Texas State graduates 13 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 Grand Canyon if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Grand Canyon lists $6,868 less per year in tuition and housing than Texas State.
- You want to play in June: Grand Canyon has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than Texas State since 2021.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 24 camps at Grand Canyon against none listed at Texas State.
- Your transcript is a strength: Grand Canyon admits 79% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Texas State if…
- You would be in-state: Texas State is $6,000 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Grand Canyon.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Texas State graduates 13 percentage points more of its students than Grand Canyon.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Texas State graduates earn about $14,720 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Texas State is $1,114 lower than at Grand Canyon.
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 | Grand Canyon | Texas State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $17,450 | $11,450 — Texas State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $17,450 — Grand Canyon leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $23,210 |
| Room & board | $11,162 — Grand Canyon leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,270 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $28,612 | $23,720 — Texas State 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. | $28,612 — Grand Canyon leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $35,480 |
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 | Grand Canyon | Texas State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 43% | 56% — Texas State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $42,186/yr | $56,906/yr — Texas State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,114 | $21,000 — Texas 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. | 52% | 37% — Texas 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 | Grand Canyon | Texas State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 79% | 89% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 107,563 | 38,722 |
| Where it is | Phoenix, AZ | San Marcos, TX |
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 | Grand Canyon | Texas State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Mountain West | Sun Belt |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 5 of the last 6 tournaments | 4 of the last 6 tournaments |
| NCAA RPI | #27 | — |
| Head coach | Shanon Hays | Ricci Woodard |
| In the job since | 2020 | — |
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 | Grand Canyon | Texas State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 24 listed (24 with dates) | — |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
Grand Canyon
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- August Pre-Camp Pitching Session II08/22/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $50
- August Prospect Camp II08/22/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $200
- September Pre-Camp Pitching Session09/05/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $50
- September Prospect Camp09/05/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $200
Texas 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.
Grand Canyon vs Texas State: common questions
- Is Grand Canyon or Texas State cheaper?
- On published price, Grand Canyon is cheaper — about $28,612 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $35,480 at Texas 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, Grand Canyon or Texas State?
- Texas State, at 56% against 43% at Grand Canyon (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Grand Canyon and Texas 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.
- Do Grand Canyon and Texas State run softball camps?
- We track 24 camps at Grand Canyon and none currently listed at Texas State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
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 Grand Canyon and Texas State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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