Mississippi State vs Ole Miss: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs in the SEC. Ole Miss graduates 5 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 Mississippi State if…
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Mississippi State against 1 at Ole Miss.
- Your transcript is a strength: Mississippi State admits 78% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Ole Miss if…
- You would be in-state: Ole Miss is $403 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Mississippi State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Ole Miss graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than Mississippi State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Ole Miss is $2,142 lower than at Mississippi State.
- You want to play in June: Ole Miss has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than Mississippi State since 2021.
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 | Mississippi State | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,815 | $9,412 — Ole Miss leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $26,580 | $26,980 |
| Room & board | $12,293 | $12,040 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $22,108 | $21,452 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $38,873 | $39,020 |
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 | Mississippi State | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 63% | 68% — Ole Miss leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $51,513/yr | $50,994/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,142 | $20,000 — Ole Miss 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. | 43% | 39% — Ole Miss 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.
| Measure | Mississippi State | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 78% | 97% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 22,657 | 24,043 |
| Where it is | Mississippi State, MS | University, 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 | Mississippi State | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 5 of the last 6 tournaments (1 WCWS) | 6 of the last 6 tournaments (1 WCWS) |
| NCAA RPI | — | #16 |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Strong | Elite |
| Head coach | Samantha Ricketts | Jamie Trachsel |
| In the job since | — | 2012 |
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 | Mississippi State | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 2 listed (2 with dates) | 1 listed (1 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.
Mississippi State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Elite Camp | August 22nd08/22/2026 · 8th - 12th · $162.50
- Elite Camp | August 23rd08/23/2026 · 8th - 12th · $162.50
Ole Miss
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Ole Miss Elite 60 Camp08/22/2026 - 08/23/2026 · 8th - 11th Grade as of Fall 2026 · See Prices
Mississippi State vs Ole Miss: common questions
- Is Mississippi State or Ole Miss cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $38,873 a year out of state in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Mississippi State or Ole Miss?
- Ole Miss, at 68% against 63% at Mississippi State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Mississippi State and Ole Miss 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 Mississippi State and Ole Miss run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 2 at Mississippi State and 1 at Ole Miss. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
- How do I contact the coaches at Mississippi State and Ole Miss?
- 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 Mississippi State and Ole Miss 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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