McKendree vs Northwest Nazarene: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. McKendree runs $4,580 less per year; McKendree graduates earn $6,853 more a decade out.
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…
- The number on the bill matters: McKendree lists $4,580 less per year in tuition and housing than Northwest Nazarene, and neither charges by residency.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: McKendree graduates earn about $6,853 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at McKendree against none listed at Northwest Nazarene.
Lean Northwest Nazarene if…
- On the figures we hold, Northwest Nazarene does not lead McKendree 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.
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 | Northwest Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $34,070 — McKendree leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $39,370 |
| Room & board | $12,270 | $11,550 — Northwest Nazarene leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $46,340 — McKendree leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $50,920 |
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 | Northwest Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% | 60% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $58,572/yr — McKendree leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $51,719/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 | $23,750 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 40% — McKendree leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 46% |
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 | Northwest Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 72% | 65% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,075 | 1,774 |
| Where it is | Lebanon, IL | Nampa, ID |
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 | Northwest Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GLVC | GNAC |
| Head coach | Heather Tarter | Rich Wagner |
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 | Northwest Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 3 listed (3 with dates) | — |
| 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
Northwest Nazarene
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.
McKendree vs Northwest Nazarene: common questions
- Is McKendree or Northwest Nazarene cheaper?
- On published price, McKendree is cheaper — about $46,340 a year in tuition and housing, against $50,920 at Northwest Nazarene. 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 Northwest Nazarene?
- Both report a 60% graduation rate (IPEDS, 2023-24).
- Do McKendree and Northwest Nazarene 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 Northwest Nazarene run softball camps?
- We track 3 camps at McKendree and none currently listed at Northwest Nazarene. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
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 Northwest Nazarene accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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