Missouri vs Nebraska: Softball Program Comparison

Two D1 programs. Nebraska runs $6,284 less per year out of state; Missouri 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 Missouri if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Missouri graduates 10 percentage points more of its students than Nebraska.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Missouri graduates earn about $6,516 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 4 camps at Missouri against none listed at Nebraska.

Lean Nebraska if…

  • You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Nebraska lists $6,284 less per year in tuition and housing than Missouri.
  • You would be in-state: Nebraska is $4,022 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Missouri.
  • Academic reputation is part of the decision: U.S. News ranks Nebraska #62 against #76 for Missouri.
  • You want the stronger program on paper: Nebraska rates elite against strong at Missouri.

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.

What it costs to go there: Missouri compared with Nebraska
MeasureMissouriNebraska
In-state tuition & fees$14,130$10,108 Nebraska leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition
Out-of-state tuition & fees$34,338$27,748 Nebraska leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition
Room & board$13,550$13,856
Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$27,680$23,964 Nebraska leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost
Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$47,888$41,604 Nebraska 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.

What you leave with: Missouri compared with Nebraska
MeasureMissouriNebraska
Graduation rate76% Missouri leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree66%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$63,403/yr Missouri leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$56,887/yr
Median debt at graduation$20,500$21,000
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.32% Missouri leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn37%

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Missouri compared with Nebraska
MeasureMissouriNebraska
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.78%87%
U.S. News rankU.S. News Best Colleges 2026. Only ranked institutions appear.#76#62 Nebraska leads on this measure: ranked higher by U.S. News
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.31,01323,986
Where it isColumbia, MOLincoln, 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.

The softball program itself: Missouri compared with Nebraska
MeasureMissouriNebraska
ConferenceSECBig Ten
NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only.4 of the last 6 tournaments4 of the last 6 tournaments (1 WCWS)
NCAA RPI#44#2 Nebraska leads on this measure: ranked higher in the NCAA RPI
Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability.StrongElite
Head coachLarissa AndersonRhonda Revelle
In the job since20182002

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.

How you actually get in front of them: Missouri compared with Nebraska
MeasureMissouriNebraska
Camps we track4 listed (4 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

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.

How D1 softball scholarships actually work →

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.

Missouri

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Nebraska

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Missouri vs Nebraska: common questions

Is Missouri or Nebraska cheaper?
On published price, Nebraska is cheaper — about $41,604 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $47,888 at Missouri. 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 or Nebraska?
Missouri, at 76% against 66% at Nebraska (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Missouri and Nebraska 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 Missouri and Nebraska run softball camps?
We track 4 camps at Missouri and none currently listed at Nebraska. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Missouri and Nebraska?
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 and Nebraska accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

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