Mary vs Upper Iowa: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the NSIC. Upper Iowa runs $1,204 less per year; Mary graduates 27 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 Mary if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Mary graduates 27 percentage points more of its students than Upper Iowa.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Mary graduates earn about $8,143 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Mary is $1,000 lower than at Upper Iowa.
- Your transcript is a strength: Mary admits 75% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Upper Iowa if…
- The number on the bill matters: Upper Iowa lists $1,204 less per year in tuition and housing than Mary, and neither charges by residency.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Upper Iowa admits 96% of applicants.
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 | Mary | Upper Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $21,468 | $19,000 — Upper Iowa leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $8,506 — Mary leads on this measure: lower room & board | $9,770 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $29,974 | $28,770 — Upper Iowa 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.
| Measure | Mary | Upper Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 68% — Mary leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 41% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $60,909/yr — Mary leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $52,766/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,000 — Mary leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 39% — Mary leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 47% |
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 | Mary | Upper Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 75% | 96% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,794 | 3,102 |
| Where it is | Bismarck, ND | Fayette, IA |
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 | Mary | Upper Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Tara Wheeler | Rachel Rhode |
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 | Mary | Upper Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
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.
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.
Mary
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Upper Iowa
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Mary vs Upper Iowa: common questions
- Is Mary or Upper Iowa cheaper?
- On published price, Upper Iowa is cheaper — about $28,770 a year in tuition and housing, against $29,974 at Mary. 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, Mary or Upper Iowa?
- Mary, at 68% against 41% at Upper Iowa (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Mary and Upper Iowa 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 Mary and Upper Iowa?
- 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 Mary and Upper Iowa accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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