Kansas Wesleyan vs Simpson: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Kansas Wesleyan runs $5,612 less per year; Simpson graduates 4 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 Kansas Wesleyan if…
- The number on the bill matters: Kansas Wesleyan lists $5,612 less per year in tuition and housing than Simpson, and neither charges by residency.
- Your transcript is a strength: Kansas Wesleyan admits 72% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Simpson if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Simpson graduates 4 percentage points more of its students than Kansas Wesleyan.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Simpson graduates earn about $3,188 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Simpson is $4,500 lower than at Kansas Wesleyan.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Simpson against none listed at Kansas Wesleyan.
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 | Kansas Wesleyan | Simpson |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $33,470 — Kansas Wesleyan leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $38,522 |
| Room & board | $11,340 — Kansas Wesleyan leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,900 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $44,810 — Kansas Wesleyan leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $50,422 |
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 | Kansas Wesleyan | Simpson |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 38% | 42% — Simpson leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $51,152/yr | $54,340/yr — Simpson leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 | $18,750 — Simpson leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 45% | 35% — Simpson leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
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 | Kansas Wesleyan | Simpson |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 72% | 86% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 951 | 907 |
| Where it is | Salina, KS | Redding, CA |
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 | Kansas Wesleyan | Simpson |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | KCAC | CCC |
| Head coach | Megan Elliott | Wayne Stower |
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 | Kansas Wesleyan | Simpson |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
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.
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.
Kansas Wesleyan
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.
Kansas Wesleyan vs Simpson: common questions
- Is Kansas Wesleyan or Simpson cheaper?
- On published price, Kansas Wesleyan is cheaper — about $44,810 a year in tuition and housing, against $50,422 at Simpson. 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, Kansas Wesleyan or Simpson?
- Simpson, at 42% against 38% at Kansas Wesleyan (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Kansas Wesleyan and Simpson 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.
- Do Kansas Wesleyan and Simpson run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Simpson and none currently listed at Kansas Wesleyan. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Kansas Wesleyan and Simpson?
- 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 Kansas Wesleyan and Simpson accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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