Illinois Springfield vs Truman State: Softball Program Comparison

Two D2 programs in the GLVC. Truman State runs $5,534 less per year out of state; Truman State 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 want to leave with less owed: median debt at Illinois Springfield is $1,872 lower than at Truman State.

Lean Truman State if…

  • You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Truman State lists $5,534 less per year in tuition and housing than Illinois Springfield.
  • You would be in-state: Truman State is $2,782 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Illinois Springfield.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Truman State graduates 7 percentage points more of its students than Illinois Springfield.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Truman State against none listed at Illinois Springfield.

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.

What it costs to go there: Illinois Springfield compared with Truman State
MeasureIllinois SpringfieldTruman State
In-state tuition & fees$12,252$9,470 Truman State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition
Out-of-state tuition & fees$22,017$17,870 Truman State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition
Room & board$12,088$10,701 Truman 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$20,171 Truman 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.$34,105$28,571 Truman 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.

What you leave with: Illinois Springfield compared with Truman State
MeasureIllinois SpringfieldTruman State
Graduation rate61%68% Truman State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$57,103/yr$56,280/yr
Median debt at graduation$19,128 Illinois Springfield leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door$21,000
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 earn37%

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Illinois Springfield compared with Truman State
MeasureIllinois SpringfieldTruman State
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.86%84%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.4,6613,636
Where it isSpringfield, ILKirksville, MO

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.

The softball program itself: Illinois Springfield compared with Truman State
MeasureIllinois SpringfieldTruman State
Head coachShannon GuthrieRon Ferrill

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.

How you actually get in front of them: Illinois Springfield compared with Truman State
MeasureIllinois SpringfieldTruman State
Camps we track1 listed (1 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

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.

How D2 softball scholarships actually work →

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 Springfield

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Truman State

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Illinois Springfield vs Truman State: common questions

Is Illinois Springfield or Truman State cheaper?
On published price, Truman State is cheaper — about $28,571 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $34,105 at Illinois Springfield. 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 Truman State?
Truman State, at 68% against 61% at Illinois Springfield (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Illinois Springfield and Truman 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.
Do Illinois Springfield and Truman State run softball camps?
We track 1 camp at Truman State and none currently listed at Illinois Springfield. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Illinois Springfield and Truman 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 Truman State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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