Lindenwood vs Toledo: Softball Program Comparison

Two D1 programs. Lindenwood runs $4,489 less per year out of state; Toledo graduates 6 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 Lindenwood if…

  • You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Lindenwood lists $4,489 less per year in tuition and housing than Toledo.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Lindenwood graduates earn about $2,646 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • Your transcript is a strength: Lindenwood admits 57% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.

Lean Toledo if…

  • You would be in-state: Toledo is $8,723 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Lindenwood.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Toledo graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Lindenwood.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Toledo is $3,750 lower than at Lindenwood.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Toledo against 1 at Lindenwood.

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: Lindenwood compared with Toledo
MeasureLindenwoodToledo
In-state tuition & fees$21,100$12,377 Toledo leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition
Out-of-state tuition & fees$21,100$21,737
Room & board$10,800 Lindenwood leads on this measure: lower room & board$14,652
Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$31,900$27,029 Toledo leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost
Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$31,900 Lindenwood leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost$36,389

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: Lindenwood compared with Toledo
MeasureLindenwoodToledo
Graduation rate50%56% Toledo leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$53,278/yr Lindenwood leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$50,632/yr
Median debt at graduation$26,000$22,250 Toledo 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.49%44% Toledo 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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Lindenwood compared with Toledo
MeasureLindenwoodToledo
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.57%92%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.7,28814,939
Where it isSaint Charles, MOToledo, OH

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: Lindenwood compared with Toledo
MeasureLindenwoodToledo
ConferenceOhio ValleyMAC
NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only.None since 2021None since 2021
Head coachErin BrownJessica Bracamonte

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: Lindenwood compared with Toledo
MeasureLindenwoodToledo
Camps we track1 listed (1 with dates)2 listed (2 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

Scholarship money, honestly

Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.

How D1 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.

Lindenwood

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Toledo

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Lindenwood vs Toledo: common questions

Is Lindenwood or Toledo cheaper?
On published price, Lindenwood is cheaper — about $31,900 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $36,389 at Toledo. 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, Lindenwood or Toledo?
Toledo, at 56% against 50% at Lindenwood (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Lindenwood and Toledo offer softball scholarships?
Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
Do Lindenwood and Toledo run softball camps?
Both do — we track 1 at Lindenwood and 2 at Toledo. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
How do I contact the coaches at Lindenwood and Toledo?
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 Lindenwood and Toledo accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

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