Lake Forest vs Wartburg: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Wartburg runs $31,570 less per year; Lake Forest graduates 14 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 Forest if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Lake Forest graduates 14 percentage points more of its students than Wartburg.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Lake Forest graduates earn about $5,624 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Lake Forest is $842 lower than at Wartburg.
- Your transcript is a strength: Lake Forest admits 57% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Wartburg if…
- The number on the bill matters: Wartburg lists $31,570 less per year in tuition and housing than Lake Forest, and neither charges by residency.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Wartburg against none listed at Lake Forest.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Wartburg admits 76% of applicants.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board 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 | Wartburg |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $56,402 | $26,250 — Wartburg leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $12,480 | $11,062 — Wartburg leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $68,882 | $37,312 — Wartburg leads on this measure: lower total cost per year |
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 | Wartburg |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 78% — Lake Forest leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 64% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $61,825/yr — Lake Forest leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $56,201/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,158 — Lake Forest leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $27,000 |
| 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 | 48% |
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 | Wartburg |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 57% | 76% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,818 | 1,472 |
| Where it is | Lake Forest, IL | Waverly, IA |
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 | Wartburg |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MWC | ARC |
| Head coach | Joe Kinsella | Jamie Mueller |
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 | Wartburg |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | 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.
Wartburg
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Day in the Life Camp01/24/2027 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $35 - $150
Lake Forest vs Wartburg: common questions
- Is Lake Forest or Wartburg cheaper?
- On published price, Wartburg is cheaper — about $37,312 a year in tuition and housing, against $68,882 at Lake Forest. 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, Lake Forest or Wartburg?
- Lake Forest, at 78% against 64% at Wartburg (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Lake Forest and Wartburg 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 Wartburg run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Wartburg 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 Wartburg?
- Lake Forest runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Wartburg, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). 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 Wartburg accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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