Mississippi State vs Tennessee: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs in the SEC. Mississippi State runs $5,601 less per year out of state; Tennessee graduates 10 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 are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Mississippi State lists $5,601 less per year in tuition and housing than Tennessee.
- You would be in-state: Mississippi State is $3,669 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Tennessee.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Mississippi State graduates earn about $7,300 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Mississippi State against none listed at Tennessee.
Lean Tennessee if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Tennessee graduates 10 percentage points more of its students than Mississippi State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Tennessee is $1,118 lower than at Mississippi State.
- You want to play in June: Tennessee has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than Mississippi State since 2021.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Tennessee admits 88% of applicants.
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 | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,815 — Mississippi State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $13,484 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $26,580 — Mississippi State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $31,974 |
| Room & board | $12,293 | $12,500 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $22,108 — Mississippi State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $25,984 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $38,873 — Mississippi State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $44,474 |
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 | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 63% | 73% — Tennessee leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $51,513/yr — Mississippi State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $44,213/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,142 | $21,024 — Tennessee 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% — Mississippi State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 48% |
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 | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 78% | 88% |
| U.S. News rankU.S. News Best Colleges 2026. Only ranked institutions appear. | — | #80 |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 22,657 | 36,304 |
| Where it is | Mississippi State, MS | Knoxville, TN |
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 | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (3 WCWS) |
| NCAA RPI | — | #5 |
| Head coach | Samantha Ricketts | Karen Weekly |
| In the job since | — | 2018 |
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 | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 2 listed (2 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
Tennessee
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.
Mississippi State vs Tennessee: common questions
- Is Mississippi State or Tennessee cheaper?
- On published price, Mississippi State is cheaper — about $38,873 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $44,474 at Tennessee. 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, Mississippi State or Tennessee?
- Tennessee, at 73% against 63% at Mississippi State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Mississippi State and Tennessee 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 Tennessee run softball camps?
- We track 2 camps at Mississippi State and none currently listed at Tennessee. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Mississippi State and Tennessee?
- 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 Tennessee accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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