Memphis vs Southern Mississippi: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Southern Mississippi runs $1,846 less per year out of state; Southern Mississippi graduates 2 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 Memphis if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Memphis graduates earn about $4,318 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Memphis against none listed at Southern Mississippi.
- Your transcript is a strength: Memphis admits 72% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Southern Mississippi if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Southern Mississippi lists $1,846 less per year in tuition and housing than Memphis.
- You would be in-state: Southern Mississippi is $726 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Memphis.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Southern Mississippi graduates 2 percentage points more of its students than Memphis.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Southern Mississippi is $800 lower than at Memphis.
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 | Memphis | Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $10,344 | $9,618 — Southern Mississippi leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $14,784 | $11,618 — Southern Mississippi leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $10,344 — Memphis leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,664 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $20,688 | $21,282 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $25,128 | $23,282 — Southern Mississippi 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 | Memphis | Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 49% | 51% — Southern Mississippi leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $48,458/yr — Memphis leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $44,140/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,300 | $22,500 — Southern Mississippi 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. | 48% — Memphis leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 51% |
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 | Memphis | Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 72% | 99% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 21,736 | 13,110 |
| Where it is | Memphis, TN | Hattiesburg, MS |
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 | Memphis | Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | American | Sun Belt |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Trena Prater | Natalie Poole |
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 | Memphis | Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 3 listed (3 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
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.
Memphis
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Monday Mini Clinic 106/08/2026 · 7th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · $137.50
- Monday Mini Clinic 206/15/2026 · 7th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · $137.50
- Monday Mini Clinic 306/22/2026 · 7th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · $137.50
Southern Mississippi
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.
Memphis vs Southern Mississippi: common questions
- Is Memphis or Southern Mississippi cheaper?
- On published price, Southern Mississippi is cheaper — about $23,282 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $25,128 at Memphis. 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, Memphis or Southern Mississippi?
- Southern Mississippi, at 51% against 49% at Memphis (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Memphis and Southern Mississippi offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
- Do Memphis and Southern Mississippi run softball camps?
- We track 3 camps at Memphis and none currently listed at Southern Mississippi. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Memphis and Southern Mississippi?
- 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 Memphis and Southern Mississippi accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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