Malone vs Newman: Softball Program Comparison

Two D2 programs. Newman runs $1,631 less per year; Newman graduates 3 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 Malone if…

  • On the figures we hold, Malone does not lead Newman on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.

Lean Newman if…

  • The number on the bill matters: Newman lists $1,631 less per year in tuition and housing than Malone, and neither charges by residency.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Newman graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Malone.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Newman graduates earn about $6,132 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Newman is $5,488 lower than at Malone.

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: Malone compared with Newman
MeasureMaloneNewman
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$36,120$35,500
Room & board$11,290$10,279 Newman leads on this measure: lower room & board
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$47,410$45,779 Newman 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: Malone compared with Newman
MeasureMaloneNewman
Graduation rate51%54% Newman leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$48,909/yr$55,041/yr Newman leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out
Median debt at graduation$26,289$20,801 Newman 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.54%38% Newman 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: Malone compared with Newman
MeasureMaloneNewman
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.76%74%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.1,2052,787
Where it isCanton, OHWichita, KS

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: Malone compared with Newman
MeasureMaloneNewman
ConferenceG-MACMIAA
Head coachJeff HiteBrittany Henning

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: Malone compared with Newman
MeasureMaloneNewman
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.

Malone

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.

Newman

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.

Malone vs Newman: common questions

Is Malone or Newman cheaper?
On published price, Newman is cheaper — about $45,779 a year in tuition and housing, against $47,410 at Malone. 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, Malone or Newman?
Newman, at 54% against 51% at Malone (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Malone and Newman 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.
How do I contact the coaches at Malone and Newman?
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 Malone and Newman accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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