Illinois Springfield vs Saginaw Valley State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Illinois Springfield runs $6,347 less per year out of state; Illinois Springfield graduates 7 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 Springfield if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Illinois Springfield lists $6,347 less per year in tuition and housing than Saginaw Valley State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Illinois Springfield graduates 7 percentage points more of its students than Saginaw Valley State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Illinois Springfield graduates earn about $5,148 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Illinois Springfield is $5,872 lower than at Saginaw Valley State.
Lean Saginaw Valley State if…
- Your transcript is a strength: Saginaw Valley State admits 72% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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 Springfield | Saginaw Valley State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $12,252 | $12,240 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $22,017 — Illinois Springfield leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $28,752 |
| Room & board | $12,088 | $11,700 — Saginaw Valley State leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $24,340 | $23,940 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $34,105 — Illinois Springfield leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $40,452 |
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 Springfield | Saginaw Valley State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 61% — Illinois Springfield leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 54% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $57,103/yr — Illinois Springfield leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $51,955/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,128 — Illinois Springfield leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 33% — Illinois Springfield leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 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 Springfield | Saginaw Valley State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 86% | 72% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,661 | 6,889 |
| Where it is | Springfield, IL | University Center, MI |
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 Springfield | Saginaw Valley State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GLVC | GLIAC |
| Head coach | Shannon Guthrie | Ryan Schalk |
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 Springfield | Saginaw Valley State |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Illinois Springfield
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.
Saginaw Valley 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 Springfield vs Saginaw Valley State: common questions
- Is Illinois Springfield or Saginaw Valley State cheaper?
- On published price, Illinois Springfield is cheaper — about $34,105 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $40,452 at Saginaw 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, Illinois Springfield or Saginaw Valley State?
- Illinois Springfield, at 61% against 54% at Saginaw Valley State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Illinois Springfield and Saginaw Valley 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Illinois Springfield and Saginaw Valley 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 Illinois Springfield and Saginaw Valley State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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