Henderson State vs Shepherd: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Henderson State runs $9,828 less per year out of state; Shepherd graduates 11 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 Henderson State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Henderson State lists $9,828 less per year in tuition and housing than Shepherd.
- You would be in-state: Henderson State is $757 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Shepherd.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Henderson State is $2,100 lower than at Shepherd.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Henderson State against none listed at Shepherd.
Lean Shepherd if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Shepherd graduates 11 percentage points more of its students than Henderson State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Shepherd graduates earn about $5,899 more per year a decade after enrolling.
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 | Henderson State | Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $7,885 — Henderson State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $8,642 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $9,882 — Henderson State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $19,082 |
| Room & board | $10,680 — Henderson State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,308 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,565 — Henderson State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $19,950 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $20,562 — Henderson State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $30,390 |
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 | Henderson State | Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 38% | 49% — Shepherd leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $43,459/yr | $49,358/yr — Shepherd leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 — Henderson State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $21,600 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 45% | 44% |
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 | Henderson State | Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 97% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,136 | 3,318 |
| Where it is | Arkadelphia, AR | Shepherdstown, WV |
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 | Henderson State | Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GAC | PSAC |
| Head coach | Joel Worthington | Marissa Leslie |
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 | Henderson State | Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | — |
| 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. 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.
Henderson State
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Skills Camp11/07/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $60
Shepherd
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.
Henderson State vs Shepherd: common questions
- Is Henderson State or Shepherd cheaper?
- On published price, Henderson State is cheaper — about $20,562 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $30,390 at Shepherd. 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, Henderson State or Shepherd?
- Shepherd, at 49% against 38% at Henderson State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Henderson State and Shepherd 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 Henderson State and Shepherd run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Henderson State and none currently listed at Shepherd. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Henderson State and Shepherd?
- Shepherd runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Henderson 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 Henderson State and Shepherd accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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