Mount Olive vs UNC Pembroke: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the CC. UNC Pembroke runs $18,575 less per year out of state; Mount Olive graduates 2 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 Mount Olive if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Mount Olive graduates 2 percentage points more of its students than UNC Pembroke.
Lean UNC Pembroke if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: UNC Pembroke lists $18,575 less per year in tuition and housing than Mount Olive.
- You would be in-state: UNC Pembroke is $22,379 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Mount Olive.
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 | Mount Olive | UNC Pembroke |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $25,950 | $3,571 — UNC Pembroke leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $25,950 | $7,571 — UNC Pembroke leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $11,212 | $11,016 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $37,162 | $14,587 — UNC Pembroke 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. | $37,162 | $18,587 — UNC Pembroke 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 | Mount Olive | UNC Pembroke |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 47% — Mount Olive leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 45% |
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 | Mount Olive | UNC Pembroke |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,128 | 7,630 |
| Where it is | Mount Olive, NC | Pembroke, NC |
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 | Mount Olive | UNC Pembroke |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | India Kornegay | Stephanie Graziani |
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 | Mount Olive | UNC Pembroke |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | 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.
Mount Olive
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.
UNC Pembroke
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.
Mount Olive vs UNC Pembroke: common questions
- Is Mount Olive or UNC Pembroke cheaper?
- On published price, UNC Pembroke is cheaper — about $18,587 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $37,162 at Mount Olive. 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, Mount Olive or UNC Pembroke?
- Mount Olive, at 47% against 45% at UNC Pembroke (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Mount Olive and UNC Pembroke 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 Mount Olive and UNC Pembroke?
- 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 Mount Olive and UNC Pembroke 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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