Illinois vs Ripon: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the MWC. Illinois runs $13,156 less per year; Ripon graduates earn $2,327 more a decade out.
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 if…
- The number on the bill matters: Illinois lists $13,156 less per year in tuition and housing than Ripon, and neither charges by residency.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Illinois is $1,435 lower than at Ripon.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 4 camps at Illinois against none listed at Ripon.
Lean Ripon if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Ripon graduates earn about $2,327 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 | Illinois | Ripon |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $37,470 — Illinois leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $50,700 |
| Room & board | $10,264 | $10,190 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $47,734 — Illinois leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $60,890 |
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 | Ripon |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 61% | 60% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $52,575/yr | $54,902/yr — Ripon leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,565 — Illinois leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $27,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 49% | 49% |
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 | Ripon |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 78% | 80% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 958 | 734 |
| Where it is | Jacksonville, IL | Ripon, WI |
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 | Ripon |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Samantha Mendez | Emilia Jackson |
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 | Ripon |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 4 listed (4 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
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.
Illinois
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Fall Prospect Camp08/22/2026 · 8th Grade - College Sophomore · $100
- Winter Prospect Camp I12/05/2026 · 8th Grade - College Sophomore · $100
- Little Kids Camp12/06/2026 · Kindergarten - 8th Grade · $30
- Winter Prospect Camp II01/23/2027 · 8th Grade - College Sophomore · $100
Ripon
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 vs Ripon: common questions
- Is Illinois or Ripon cheaper?
- On published price, Illinois is cheaper — about $47,734 a year in tuition and housing, against $60,890 at Ripon. 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 or Ripon?
- Illinois, at 61% against 60% at Ripon (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Illinois and Ripon offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- Do Illinois and Ripon run softball camps?
- We track 4 camps at Illinois and none currently listed at Ripon. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Illinois and Ripon?
- 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 Illinois and Ripon accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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