Montana State Northern vs Oregon Tech: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Montana State Northern runs $20,785 less per year out of state; Oregon Tech graduates 17 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 Montana State Northern if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Montana State Northern lists $20,785 less per year in tuition and housing than Oregon Tech.
- You would be in-state: Montana State Northern is $6,418 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Oregon Tech.
- Your transcript is a strength: Montana State Northern admits 82% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Oregon Tech if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Oregon Tech graduates 17 percentage points more of its students than Montana State Northern.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Oregon Tech graduates earn about $19,010 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Oregon Tech admits 95% 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 | Montana State Northern | Oregon Tech |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $6,269 — Montana State Northern leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $12,687 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $19,385 — Montana State Northern leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $35,592 |
| Room & board | $7,026 — Montana State Northern leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,604 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $13,295 — Montana State Northern leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $24,291 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $26,411 — Montana State Northern leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $47,196 |
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 | Montana State Northern | Oregon Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 42% | 59% — Oregon Tech leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $53,263/yr | $72,273/yr — Oregon Tech leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,500 | $22,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 42% | 31% — Oregon Tech 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 | Montana State Northern | Oregon Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 82% | 95% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,021 | 5,103 |
| Where it is | Havre, MT | Klamath Falls, OR |
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 | Montana State Northern | Oregon Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | FRON | CCC |
| Head coach | — | Greg Stewart |
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 | Montana State Northern | Oregon Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NAIA, so the scholarship rules are identical: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic 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.
Montana State Northern
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.
Oregon Tech
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.
Montana State Northern vs Oregon Tech: common questions
- Is Montana State Northern or Oregon Tech cheaper?
- On published price, Montana State Northern is cheaper — about $26,411 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $47,196 at Oregon Tech. 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, Montana State Northern or Oregon Tech?
- Oregon Tech, at 59% against 42% at Montana State Northern (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Montana State Northern and Oregon Tech offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NAIA: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Montana State Northern and Oregon Tech?
- Oregon Tech runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Montana State Northern, 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 Montana State Northern and Oregon Tech accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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