Grand Valley State vs Winona State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Winona State runs $4,808 less per year out of state; Grand Valley State graduates 8 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 Valley State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Grand Valley State graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than Winona State.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 7 camps at Grand Valley State against 1 at Winona State.
Lean Winona State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Winona State lists $4,808 less per year in tuition and housing than Grand Valley State.
- You would be in-state: Winona State is $4,130 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Grand Valley State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Winona State graduates earn about $2,414 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Winona State is $3,000 lower than at Grand 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 | Grand Valley State | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $14,628 | $10,498 — Winona State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $20,820 | $17,230 — Winona State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $11,142 | $9,924 — Winona State leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $25,770 | $20,422 — Winona 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. | $31,962 | $27,154 — Winona State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
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 Valley State | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 69% — Grand Valley State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 61% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $56,118/yr | $58,532/yr — Winona State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,500 | $21,500 — Winona 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. | 44% | 37% — Winona 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 Valley State | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 83% | 75% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 22,269 | 6,058 |
| Where it is | Allendale, MI | Winona, MN |
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 Valley State | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GLIAC | NSIC |
| Head coach | Dana Callihan | Greg Jones |
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 Valley State | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 7 listed (7 with dates) | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | 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. 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 Valley State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Team Camp11/14/2026 · 8th - 11th Grade as of Fall 2026 · See Prices
- Skills Clinic | 9:00 AM Sessions11/15/2026 · 9th - 11th Grade as of Fall 2026 · See Prices
- Skills Clinic | 10:00 AM Sessions11/15/2026 · 9th - 11th Grade as of Fall 2026 · See Prices
- Skills Clinic | 11:00 AM Sessions11/15/2026 · 9th - 11th Grade as of Fall 2026 · See Prices
Winona State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Fall Camp09/27/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $105
Grand Valley State vs Winona State: common questions
- Is Grand Valley State or Winona State cheaper?
- On published price, Winona State is cheaper — about $27,154 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $31,962 at Grand Valley 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 Valley State or Winona State?
- Grand Valley State, at 69% against 61% at Winona State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Grand Valley State and Winona 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.
- Do Grand Valley State and Winona State run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 7 at Grand Valley State and 1 at Winona State. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
- How do I contact the coaches at Grand Valley State and Winona 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 Grand Valley State and Winona State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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