NC State vs Ole Miss: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Ole Miss runs $6,466 less per year out of state; NC State 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 NC State if…
- You would be in-state: NC State is $517 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Ole Miss.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: NC State graduates 17 percentage points more of its students than Ole Miss.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: NC State graduates earn about $17,764 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 7 camps at NC State against 1 at Ole Miss.
Lean Ole Miss if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Ole Miss lists $6,466 less per year in tuition and housing than NC State.
- You want to play in June: Ole Miss has reached 6 more NCAA tournaments than NC State since 2021.
- You want the stronger program on paper: Ole Miss rates elite against solid at NC State.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Ole Miss admits 97% 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 | NC State | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,895 — NC State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $9,412 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $31,767 | $26,980 — Ole Miss leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $13,719 | $12,040 — Ole Miss leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $22,614 | $21,452 — Ole Miss 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. | $45,486 | $39,020 — Ole Miss 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 | NC State | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 85% — NC State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 68% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $68,758/yr — NC State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $50,994/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,121 | $20,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 29% — NC State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 39% |
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 | NC State | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 42% | 97% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 37,323 | 24,043 |
| Where it is | Raleigh, NC | University, MS |
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 | NC State | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | ACC | SEC |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | 6 of the last 6 tournaments (1 WCWS) |
| NCAA RPI | — | #16 |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Solid | Elite |
| Head coach | Lindsay Leftwich | Jamie Trachsel |
| In the job since | — | 2012 |
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 | NC State | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 7 listed | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
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.
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.
Ole Miss
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Ole Miss Elite 60 Camp08/22/2026 - 08/23/2026 · 8th - 11th Grade as of Fall 2026 · See Prices
NC State vs Ole Miss: common questions
- Is NC State or Ole Miss cheaper?
- On published price, Ole Miss is cheaper — about $39,020 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $45,486 at NC 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, NC State or Ole Miss?
- NC State, at 85% against 68% at Ole Miss (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do NC State and Ole Miss 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 NC State and Ole Miss run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 7 at NC State and 1 at Ole Miss. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
- How do I contact the coaches at NC State and Ole Miss?
- 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 NC State and Ole Miss accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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