Indiana Tech vs Ottawa: Softball Program Comparison

Two NAIA programs. Indiana Tech runs $4,435 less per year; Indiana Tech 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 Indiana Tech if…

  • The number on the bill matters: Indiana Tech lists $4,435 less per year in tuition and housing than Ottawa, and neither charges by residency.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Indiana Tech graduates 2 percentage points more of its students than Ottawa.

Lean Ottawa if…

  • On the figures we hold, Ottawa does not lead Indiana Tech on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.

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: Indiana Tech compared with Ottawa
MeasureIndiana TechOttawa
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$30,446 Indiana Tech leads on this measure: lower published tuition$35,300
Room & board$12,579$12,160 Ottawa leads on this measure: lower room & board
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$43,025 Indiana Tech leads on this measure: lower total cost per year$47,460

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: Indiana Tech compared with Ottawa
MeasureIndiana TechOttawa
Graduation rate31% Indiana Tech leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree29%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$55,552/yr
Median debt at graduation$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.39%

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: Indiana Tech compared with Ottawa
MeasureIndiana TechOttawa
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.83%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.2,8621,055
Where it isFort Wayne, INOttawa, KS

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: Indiana Tech compared with Ottawa
MeasureIndiana TechOttawa
ConferenceWHACKCAC
Head coachStephanie ZimnyMaile Deutsch

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: Indiana Tech compared with Ottawa
MeasureIndiana TechOttawa
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

Scholarship money, honestly

Both programs sit at NAIA, so the scholarship rules are identical: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.

How NAIA 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.

Indiana Tech

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.

Ottawa

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.

Indiana Tech vs Ottawa: common questions

Is Indiana Tech or Ottawa cheaper?
On published price, Indiana Tech is cheaper — about $43,025 a year in tuition and housing, against $47,460 at Ottawa. 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, Indiana Tech or Ottawa?
Indiana Tech, at 31% against 29% at Ottawa (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Indiana Tech and Ottawa offer softball scholarships?
Both play at NAIA: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
How do I contact the coaches at Indiana Tech and Ottawa?
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 Indiana Tech and Ottawa accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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