Lyon vs New College Florida: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Lyon runs $1,999 less per year out of state; New College Florida 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 Lyon if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Lyon lists $1,999 less per year in tuition and housing than New College Florida.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Lyon against none listed at New College Florida.
- Your transcript is a strength: Lyon admits 63% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean New College Florida if…
- You would be in-state: New College Florida is $24,084 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Lyon.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: New College Florida graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Lyon.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: New College Florida graduates earn about $3,850 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at New College Florida is $4,125 lower than at Lyon.
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 | Lyon | New College Florida |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $31,000 | $6,916 — New College Florida leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $31,000 | $29,944 — New College Florida leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $10,750 — Lyon leads on this measure: lower room & board | $13,805 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $41,750 | $20,721 — New College Florida 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. | $41,750 — Lyon leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $43,749 |
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 | Lyon | New College Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 56% | 62% — New College Florida leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $44,232/yr | $48,082/yr — New College Florida leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 | $17,375 — New College Florida 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% | 36% — New College Florida 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 | Lyon | New College Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 63% | 73% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 584 | 732 |
| Where it is | Batesville, AR | Sarasota, FL |
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 | Lyon | New College Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | AMC | SUN |
| Head coach | Taylor Kuhn | Corbin Weeks |
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 | Lyon | New College Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NAIA, so the scholarship rules are identical: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic 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.
Lyon
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Prospect Camp07/27/2026 · 7th - College Sophomore Grade as of Fall · $125.00
New College Florida
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Lyon vs New College Florida: common questions
- Is Lyon or New College Florida cheaper?
- On published price, Lyon is cheaper — about $41,750 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $43,749 at New College Florida. 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, Lyon or New College Florida?
- New College Florida, at 62% against 56% at Lyon (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Lyon and New College Florida offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NAIA: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
- Do Lyon and New College Florida run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Lyon and none currently listed at New College Florida. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Lyon and New College Florida?
- Lyon runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For New College Florida, 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 Lyon and New College Florida 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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