McKendree vs Minnesota Duluth: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Minnesota Duluth runs $16,372 less per year out of state; Minnesota Duluth graduates 4 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 McKendree if…
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at McKendree against none listed at Minnesota Duluth.
Lean Minnesota Duluth if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Minnesota Duluth lists $16,372 less per year in tuition and housing than McKendree.
- You would be in-state: Minnesota Duluth is $19,752 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than McKendree.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Minnesota Duluth graduates 4 percentage points more of its students than McKendree.
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 | McKendree | Minnesota Duluth |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $34,070 | $14,318 — Minnesota Duluth leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $34,070 | $19,762 — Minnesota Duluth leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $12,270 | $10,206 — Minnesota Duluth leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $46,340 | $24,524 — Minnesota Duluth 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. | $46,340 | $29,968 — Minnesota Duluth leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
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 | McKendree | Minnesota Duluth |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% | 64% — Minnesota Duluth leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $58,572/yr | — |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 | — |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 40% | — |
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 | McKendree | Minnesota Duluth |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 72% | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,075 | 9,350 |
| Where it is | Lebanon, IL | Duluth, MN |
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 | McKendree | Minnesota Duluth |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GLVC | NSIC |
| Head coach | Heather Tarter | Deven Boland |
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 | McKendree | Minnesota Duluth |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 3 listed (3 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | 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. 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.
McKendree
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Fall Prospect Camp I08/22/2026 · 8th Grade - College Junior · $85
- Fall Prospect Camp II09/12/2026 · 8th Grade - College Junior · $130
- Fall Prospect Camp III10/11/2026 · 8th Grade - College Junior · $85
Minnesota Duluth
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.
McKendree vs Minnesota Duluth: common questions
- Is McKendree or Minnesota Duluth cheaper?
- On published price, Minnesota Duluth is cheaper — about $29,968 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $46,340 at McKendree. 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, McKendree or Minnesota Duluth?
- Minnesota Duluth, at 64% against 60% at McKendree (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do McKendree and Minnesota Duluth 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.
- Do McKendree and Minnesota Duluth run softball camps?
- We track 3 camps at McKendree and none currently listed at Minnesota Duluth. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at McKendree and Minnesota Duluth?
- Minnesota Duluth runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For McKendree, 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 McKendree and Minnesota Duluth accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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