McKendree vs Rockhurst: Softball Program Comparison

Two D2 programs in the GLVC. McKendree runs $8,620 less per year; Rockhurst 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 McKendree if…

  • The number on the bill matters: McKendree lists $8,620 less per year in tuition and housing than Rockhurst, and neither charges by residency.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at McKendree against none listed at Rockhurst.

Lean Rockhurst if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Rockhurst graduates 16 percentage points more of its students than McKendree.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Rockhurst graduates earn about $8,530 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Rockhurst is $5,000 lower than at 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.

What it costs to go there: McKendree compared with Rockhurst
MeasureMcKendreeRockhurst
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$34,070 McKendree leads on this measure: lower published tuition$43,420
Room & board$12,270$11,540 Rockhurst 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$54,960

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: McKendree compared with Rockhurst
MeasureMcKendreeRockhurst
Graduation rate60%76% Rockhurst leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$58,572/yr$67,102/yr Rockhurst leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out
Median debt at graduation$23,250$18,250 Rockhurst 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.40%27% Rockhurst 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: McKendree compared with Rockhurst
MeasureMcKendreeRockhurst
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.72%70%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.2,0753,496
Where it isLebanon, ILKansas City, MO

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: McKendree compared with Rockhurst
MeasureMcKendreeRockhurst
Head coachHeather TarterDana Goss

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: McKendree compared with Rockhurst
MeasureMcKendreeRockhurst
Camps we track3 listed (3 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYes

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. 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 questionnaire

We do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.

Camps we track

Rockhurst

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.

McKendree vs Rockhurst: common questions

Is McKendree or Rockhurst cheaper?
On published price, McKendree is cheaper — about $46,340 a year in tuition and housing, against $54,960 at Rockhurst. 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 Rockhurst?
Rockhurst, at 76% against 60% at McKendree (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do McKendree and Rockhurst 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 Rockhurst run softball camps?
We track 3 camps at McKendree and none currently listed at Rockhurst. 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 Rockhurst?
Rockhurst 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 Rockhurst accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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