Lake Erie vs McKendree: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. McKendree lists $1,962 less in tuition; McKendree graduates 18 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 Lake Erie if…
- On the figures we hold, Lake Erie does not lead McKendree 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.
Lean McKendree if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: McKendree graduates 18 percentage points more of its students than Lake Erie.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: McKendree graduates earn about $8,155 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at McKendree is $2,750 lower than at Lake Erie.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at McKendree against none listed at Lake Erie.
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 | Lake Erie | McKendree |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $36,032 | $34,070 — McKendree leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $11,592 — Lake Erie leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,270 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $47,624 | $46,340 |
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 | Lake Erie | McKendree |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 42% | 60% — McKendree leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $50,417/yr | $58,572/yr — McKendree leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 | $23,250 — McKendree 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. | 52% | 40% — McKendree 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 | Lake Erie | McKendree |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 70% | 72% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 942 | 2,075 |
| Where it is | Painesville, OH | Lebanon, IL |
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 | Lake Erie | McKendree |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | G-MAC | GLVC |
| Head coach | Shannon Schaub | Heather Tarter |
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 | Lake Erie | McKendree |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 3 listed (3 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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.
Lake Erie
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.
McKendree
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Fall Prospect Camp I08/22/2026 · 8th Grade - College Junior · $85
- Fall Prospect Camp II09/12/2026 · 8th Grade - College Junior · $130
- Fall Prospect Camp III10/11/2026 · 8th Grade - College Junior · $85
Lake Erie vs McKendree: common questions
- Is Lake Erie or McKendree cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $47,624 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Lake Erie or McKendree?
- McKendree, at 60% against 42% at Lake Erie (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Lake Erie and McKendree 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 Lake Erie and McKendree run softball camps?
- We track 3 camps at McKendree and none currently listed at Lake Erie. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Lake Erie and McKendree?
- Lake Erie runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For McKendree, 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 Lake Erie and McKendree accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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