Murray State vs Western Oklahoma State: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the OCAC. Western Oklahoma State runs $1,128 less per year out of state; Western Oklahoma State graduates 4 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 Murray State if…
- On the figures we hold, Murray State does not lead Western Oklahoma 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 Western Oklahoma State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Western Oklahoma State lists $1,128 less per year in tuition and housing than Murray State.
- You would be in-state: Western Oklahoma State is $1,184 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Murray State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Western Oklahoma State graduates 4 percentage points more of its students than Murray State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Western Oklahoma State graduates earn about $1,703 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 | Murray State | Western Oklahoma State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $6,630 | $5,446 — Western Oklahoma State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $10,830 | $9,618 — Western Oklahoma State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $7,546 | $7,630 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $14,176 | $13,076 — Western Oklahoma State 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. | $18,376 | $17,248 — Western Oklahoma 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 | Murray State | Western Oklahoma State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 30% | 34% — Western Oklahoma State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $36,545/yr | $38,248/yr — Western Oklahoma State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,387 | $9,500 — Western Oklahoma State 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. | 37% | 25% — Western Oklahoma 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 | Murray State | Western Oklahoma State |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,686 | 1,151 |
| Where it is | Tishomingo, OK | Altus, OK |
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 | Murray State | Western Oklahoma State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Aaron Mullens | Jerod Stidham |
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 | Murray State | Western Oklahoma State |
|---|---|---|
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges), so the scholarship rules are identical: varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic 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.
Murray State
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.
Western Oklahoma State
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.
Murray State vs Western Oklahoma State: common questions
- Is Murray State or Western Oklahoma State cheaper?
- On published price, Western Oklahoma State is cheaper — about $17,248 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $18,376 at Murray 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, Murray State or Western Oklahoma State?
- Western Oklahoma State, at 34% against 30% at Murray State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Murray State and Western Oklahoma State offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges): varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic aid.
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 Murray State and Western Oklahoma State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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