Lewis vs St. Cloud State: Softball Program Comparison

Two D2 programs. St. Cloud State runs $30,275 less per year; Lewis graduates 16 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 Lewis if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Lewis graduates 16 percentage points more of its students than St. Cloud State.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Lewis against none listed at St. Cloud State.

Lean St. Cloud State if…

  • The number on the bill matters: St. Cloud State lists $30,275 less per year in tuition and housing than Lewis, and neither charges by residency.

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: Lewis compared with St. Cloud State
MeasureLewisSt. Cloud State
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$37,882$10,117 St. Cloud State leads on this measure: lower published tuition
Room & board$12,140$9,630 St. Cloud State leads on this measure: lower room & board
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$50,022$19,747 St. Cloud State 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.

What you leave with: Lewis compared with St. Cloud State
MeasureLewisSt. Cloud State
Graduation rate63% Lewis leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree47%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$66,099/yr
Median debt at graduation$21,500
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.33%

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: Lewis compared with St. Cloud State
MeasureLewisSt. Cloud State
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.71%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.6,63610,514
Where it isRomeoville, ILSaint Cloud, MN

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: Lewis compared with St. Cloud State
MeasureLewisSt. Cloud State
ConferenceGLVCNSIC
Head coachBecky PearlTBA

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: Lewis compared with St. Cloud State
MeasureLewisSt. Cloud State
Camps we track1 listed (1 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

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.

How D2 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.

Lewis

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

St. Cloud State

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

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

Lewis vs St. Cloud State: common questions

Is Lewis or St. Cloud State cheaper?
On published price, St. Cloud State is cheaper — about $19,747 a year in tuition and housing, against $50,022 at Lewis. 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, Lewis or St. Cloud State?
Lewis, at 63% against 47% at St. Cloud State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Lewis and St. Cloud State 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 Lewis and St. Cloud State run softball camps?
We track 1 camp at Lewis and none currently listed at St. Cloud State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Lewis and St. Cloud State?
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 Lewis and St. Cloud State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

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