Minot State vs Purdue Northwest: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Minot State runs $8,025 less per year out of state; Minot State 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 Minot State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Minot State lists $8,025 less per year in tuition and housing than Purdue Northwest.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Minot State graduates 4 percentage points more of its students than Purdue Northwest.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Minot State graduates earn about $3,441 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Minot State is $1,620 lower than at Purdue Northwest.
Lean Purdue Northwest if…
- On the figures we hold, Purdue Northwest does not lead Minot State 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 | Minot State | Purdue Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,634 | $8,419 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $8,634 — Minot State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $15,620 |
| Room & board | $8,058 — Minot State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $9,097 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $16,692 — Minot State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $17,516 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $16,692 — Minot State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $24,717 |
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 | Minot State | Purdue Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 48% — Minot State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 44% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $51,759/yr — Minot State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $48,318/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,609 — Minot State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $21,229 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 38% — Minot State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 44% |
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 | Minot State | Purdue Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 65% | 72% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,741 | 8,679 |
| Where it is | Minot, ND | Hammond, IN |
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 | Minot State | Purdue Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | NSIC | GLIAC |
| Head coach | Sal Rodriguez | Claire Schapker |
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 | Minot State | Purdue Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Minot State
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.
Purdue Northwest
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.
Minot State vs Purdue Northwest: common questions
- Is Minot State or Purdue Northwest cheaper?
- On published price, Minot State is cheaper — about $16,692 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $24,717 at Purdue Northwest. 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, Minot State or Purdue Northwest?
- Minot State, at 48% against 44% at Purdue Northwest (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Minot State and Purdue Northwest 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 Minot State and Purdue Northwest?
- Purdue Northwest runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Minot State, 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 Minot State and Purdue Northwest accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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