Illinois vs Wisconsin Lutheran: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Wisconsin Lutheran lists $2,390 less in tuition; Wisconsin Lutheran graduates 2 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 if…
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 4 camps at Illinois against 1 at Wisconsin Lutheran.
Lean Wisconsin Lutheran if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Wisconsin Lutheran graduates 2 percentage points more of its students than Illinois.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Wisconsin Lutheran graduates earn about $2,089 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 | Wisconsin Lutheran |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $37,470 | $35,080 — Wisconsin Lutheran leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $10,264 — Illinois leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,880 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $47,734 | $46,960 |
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 | Wisconsin Lutheran |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 61% | 63% — Wisconsin Lutheran leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $52,575/yr | $54,664/yr — Wisconsin Lutheran leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,565 | $26,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 49% | 48% |
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 | Wisconsin Lutheran |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 78% | 78% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 958 | 1,094 |
| Where it is | Jacksonville, IL | Milwaukee, 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 | Wisconsin Lutheran |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MWC | NACC |
| Head coach | Samantha Mendez | James Flegel |
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 | Wisconsin Lutheran |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 4 listed (4 with dates) | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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
Wisconsin Lutheran
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- ID Camp09/19/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $135
Illinois vs Wisconsin Lutheran: common questions
- Is Illinois or Wisconsin Lutheran cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $47,734 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Illinois or Wisconsin Lutheran?
- Wisconsin Lutheran, at 63% against 61% at Illinois (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Illinois and Wisconsin Lutheran 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 Wisconsin Lutheran run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 4 at Illinois and 1 at Wisconsin Lutheran. 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 Illinois and Wisconsin Lutheran?
- Illinois runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Wisconsin Lutheran, 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 and Wisconsin Lutheran accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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