Martin Luther vs Wilmington: Softball Program Comparison

Two D3 programs. Martin Luther runs $17,407 less per year; Martin Luther 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 Martin Luther if…

  • The number on the bill matters: Martin Luther lists $17,407 less per year in tuition and housing than Wilmington, and neither charges by residency.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Martin Luther graduates 16 percentage points more of its students than Wilmington.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Martin Luther is $4,031 lower than at Wilmington.

Lean Wilmington if…

  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Wilmington against none listed at Martin Luther.

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: Martin Luther compared with Wilmington
MeasureMartin LutherWilmington
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$17,770 Martin Luther leads on this measure: lower published tuition$30,962
Room & board$7,280 Martin Luther leads on this measure: lower room & board$11,495
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$25,050 Martin Luther leads on this measure: lower total cost per year$42,457

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: Martin Luther compared with Wilmington
MeasureMartin LutherWilmington
Graduation rate71% Martin Luther leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree55%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$47,491/yr$48,491/yr
Median debt at graduation$20,177 Martin Luther leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door$24,208
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.42% Martin Luther leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn50%

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: Martin Luther compared with Wilmington
MeasureMartin LutherWilmington
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.87%92%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.860964
Where it isNew Ulm, MNWilmington, 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: Martin Luther compared with Wilmington
MeasureMartin LutherWilmington
ConferenceUMACOAC
Head coachBecca KvamMegan Warren

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: Martin Luther compared with Wilmington
MeasureMartin LutherWilmington
Camps we track1 listed (1 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

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.

How D3 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.

Martin Luther

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.

Wilmington

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Martin Luther vs Wilmington: common questions

Is Martin Luther or Wilmington cheaper?
On published price, Martin Luther is cheaper — about $25,050 a year in tuition and housing, against $42,457 at Wilmington. 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, Martin Luther or Wilmington?
Martin Luther, at 71% against 55% at Wilmington (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Martin Luther and Wilmington 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 Martin Luther and Wilmington run softball camps?
We track 1 camp at Wilmington and none currently listed at Martin Luther. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Martin Luther and Wilmington?
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 Martin Luther and Wilmington accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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