Illinois Springfield vs Winona State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Winona State runs $6,951 less per year out of state.
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 $2,372 lower than at Winona State.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Illinois Springfield admits 86% of applicants.
Lean Winona State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Winona State lists $6,951 less per year in tuition and housing than Illinois Springfield.
- You would be in-state: Winona State is $1,754 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Illinois Springfield.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Winona State against none listed at Illinois Springfield.
- Your transcript is a strength: Winona State admits 75% 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 | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $12,252 | $10,498 — Winona State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $22,017 | $17,230 — Winona State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $12,088 | $9,924 — Winona 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 | $20,422 — Winona 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 | $27,154 — Winona 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 Springfield | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 61% | 61% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $57,103/yr | $58,532/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,128 — Illinois Springfield leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $21,500 |
| 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 | 37% |
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 | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 86% | 75% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,661 | 6,058 |
| Where it is | Springfield, IL | Winona, MN |
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 | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GLVC | NSIC |
| Head coach | Shannon Guthrie | Greg Jones |
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 | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| 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. 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 questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Winona State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Fall Camp09/27/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $105
Illinois Springfield vs Winona State: common questions
- Is Illinois Springfield or Winona State cheaper?
- On published price, Winona State is cheaper — about $27,154 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 Winona State?
- Both report a 61% graduation rate (IPEDS, 2023-24).
- Do Illinois Springfield and Winona 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 Winona State run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Winona 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 Winona 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 Winona State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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