Lake Forest vs Lawrence: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the MWC. Lawrence graduates 6 points more of its students; Lake Forest graduates earn $6,036 more a decade out.
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 Forest if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Lake Forest graduates earn about $6,036 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Lawrence if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Lawrence graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Lake Forest.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 4 camps at Lawrence against none listed at Lake Forest.
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 Forest | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $54,202 | $55,461 |
| Room & board | $12,480 | $11,838 — Lawrence leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $66,682 | $67,299 |
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 Forest | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 70% | 76% — Lawrence leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $61,825/yr — Lake Forest leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $55,789/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,158 | $26,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 42% — Lake Forest leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 47% |
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 Forest | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 57% | 64% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,818 | 1,410 |
| Where it is | Lake Forest, IL | Appleton, WI |
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 Forest | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Joe Kinsella | Korey Krueger |
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 Forest | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 4 listed (4 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
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 Forest
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.
Lawrence
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- 2026 Alumni Game10/10/2026 · $0.00
- 2026 Lawrence University Prospect ID Hitting Camp10/11/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $50
- Lawrence University New Year Hitting Camp | Ages 9-1401/03/2027 · 9 - 14 · $45
- Lawrence University New Year Hitting Camp | High School01/03/2027 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $65
Lake Forest vs Lawrence: common questions
- Is Lake Forest or Lawrence cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $66,682 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 Forest or Lawrence?
- Lawrence, at 76% against 70% at Lake Forest (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Lake Forest and Lawrence offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- Do Lake Forest and Lawrence run softball camps?
- We track 4 camps at Lawrence and none currently listed at Lake Forest. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Lake Forest and Lawrence?
- 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 Lake Forest and Lawrence accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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