Missouri-Kansas City vs Youngstown State: Softball Program Comparison

Two D1 programs. Youngstown State runs $19,371 less per year out of state; Missouri-Kansas City graduates 3 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 Missouri-Kansas City if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Missouri-Kansas City graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Youngstown State.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Missouri-Kansas City graduates earn about $18,093 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Missouri-Kansas City is $5,250 lower than at Youngstown State.
  • Your transcript is a strength: Missouri-Kansas City admits 72% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.

Lean Youngstown State if…

  • You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Youngstown State lists $19,371 less per year in tuition and housing than Missouri-Kansas City.
  • You would be in-state: Youngstown State is $1,197 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Missouri-Kansas City.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Youngstown State against none listed at Missouri-Kansas City.
  • Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Youngstown State admits 84% of applicants.

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: Missouri-Kansas City compared with Youngstown State
MeasureMissouri-Kansas CityYoungstown State
In-state tuition & fees$11,988$10,791 Youngstown State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition
Out-of-state tuition & fees$28,788$11,151 Youngstown State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition
Room & board$12,118$10,384 Youngstown State leads on this measure: lower room & board
Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$24,106$21,175 Youngstown 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.$40,906$21,535 Youngstown 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: Missouri-Kansas City compared with Youngstown State
MeasureMissouri-Kansas CityYoungstown State
Graduation rate56% Missouri-Kansas City leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree53%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$59,637/yr Missouri-Kansas City leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$41,544/yr
Median debt at graduation$18,750 Missouri-Kansas City leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door$24,000
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.31% Missouri-Kansas City leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn58%

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: Missouri-Kansas City compared with Youngstown State
MeasureMissouri-Kansas CityYoungstown State
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.72%84%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.15,27711,040
Where it isKansas City, MOYoungstown, OH

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: Missouri-Kansas City compared with Youngstown State
MeasureMissouri-Kansas CityYoungstown State
ConferenceSummitHorizon
NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only.None since 2021None since 2021
Head coachKiki Stokes O'ConnorErin Pond

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: Missouri-Kansas City compared with Youngstown State
MeasureMissouri-Kansas CityYoungstown State
Camps we track1 listed (1 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

Scholarship money, honestly

Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.

How D1 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.

Missouri-Kansas City

Find the recruiting questionnaire

We do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.

Camps we track

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

Youngstown State

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Missouri-Kansas City vs Youngstown State: common questions

Is Missouri-Kansas City or Youngstown State cheaper?
On published price, Youngstown State is cheaper — about $21,535 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $40,906 at Missouri-Kansas City. 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, Missouri-Kansas City or Youngstown State?
Missouri-Kansas City, at 56% against 53% at Youngstown State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Missouri-Kansas City and Youngstown State offer softball scholarships?
Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
Do Missouri-Kansas City and Youngstown State run softball camps?
We track 1 camp at Youngstown State and none currently listed at Missouri-Kansas City. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Missouri-Kansas City and Youngstown State?
Youngstown State runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Missouri-Kansas City, 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 Missouri-Kansas City and Youngstown State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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