Missouri Southern State vs Wayne State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Wayne State runs $6,378 less per year out of state; Wayne State graduates 18 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 Missouri Southern State if…
- On the figures we hold, Missouri Southern State does not lead Wayne 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.
Lean Wayne State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Wayne State lists $6,378 less per year in tuition and housing than Missouri Southern State.
- You would be in-state: Wayne State is $430 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Missouri Southern State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Wayne State graduates 18 percentage points more of its students than Missouri Southern State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Wayne State graduates earn about $4,455 more per year a decade after enrolling.
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 | Missouri Southern State | Wayne State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,400 | $7,970 — Wayne State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $16,800 | $7,970 — Wayne State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $7,172 — Missouri Southern State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $9,624 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $15,572 — Missouri Southern State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $17,594 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $23,972 | $17,594 — Wayne State 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 | Missouri Southern State | Wayne State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 38% | 56% — Wayne State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $42,620/yr | $47,075/yr — Wayne State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,174 | $19,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 45% | 40% — Wayne State 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 | Missouri Southern State | Wayne State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 97% | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,090 | 4,807 |
| Where it is | Joplin, MO | Wayne, NE |
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 | Missouri Southern State | Wayne State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MIAA | NSIC |
| Head coach | Hallie Blackney | Christy Warnock |
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 | Missouri Southern State | Wayne State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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.
Missouri Southern State
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.
Wayne State
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.
Missouri Southern State vs Wayne State: common questions
- Is Missouri Southern State or Wayne State cheaper?
- On published price, Wayne State is cheaper — about $17,594 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $23,972 at Missouri Southern State. 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, Missouri Southern State or Wayne State?
- Wayne State, at 56% against 38% at Missouri Southern State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Missouri Southern State and Wayne State 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 Missouri Southern State and Wayne State?
- 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 Missouri Southern State and Wayne State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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