Illinois Chicago vs Illinois State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs in the Missouri Valley. Illinois State runs $4,290 less per year out of state; Illinois State 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 Illinois Chicago if…
- You would be in-state: Illinois Chicago is $1,683 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Illinois State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Illinois Chicago graduates earn about $6,623 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Illinois Chicago is $3,778 lower than at Illinois State.
- You want to play in June: Illinois Chicago has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than Illinois State since 2021.
Lean Illinois State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Illinois State lists $4,290 less per year in tuition and housing than Illinois Chicago.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Illinois State graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Illinois Chicago.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Illinois State admits 88% 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 | Illinois Chicago | Illinois State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $14,338 — Illinois Chicago leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $16,021 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $29,360 | $28,086 — Illinois State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $14,600 | $11,584 — Illinois State leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $28,938 | $27,605 — Illinois 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. | $43,960 | $39,670 — Illinois 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 | Illinois Chicago | Illinois State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% | 66% — Illinois State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $68,740/yr — Illinois Chicago leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $62,117/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,704 — Illinois Chicago leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $20,482 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 24% — Illinois Chicago leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 33% |
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 | Illinois Chicago | Illinois State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 77% | 88% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 33,522 | 20,989 |
| Where it is | Chicago, IL | Normal, IL |
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 | Illinois Chicago | Illinois State |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 1 of the last 6 tournaments | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Megan Coronado | Tina Kramos |
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 | Illinois Chicago | Illinois State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Illinois Chicago
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.
Illinois 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.
Illinois Chicago vs Illinois State: common questions
- Is Illinois Chicago or Illinois State cheaper?
- On published price, Illinois State is cheaper — about $39,670 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $43,960 at Illinois Chicago. 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, Illinois Chicago or Illinois State?
- Illinois State, at 66% against 60% at Illinois Chicago (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Illinois Chicago and Illinois 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 Illinois Chicago and Illinois State?
- Illinois State runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Illinois Chicago, 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 Illinois Chicago and Illinois State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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