Nebraska at Kearney vs Northern State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Northern State runs $3,949 less per year out of state; Nebraska at Kearney graduates 8 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 Nebraska at Kearney if…
- You would be in-state: Nebraska at Kearney is $543 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Northern State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Nebraska at Kearney graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than Northern State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Nebraska at Kearney graduates earn about $2,487 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Nebraska at Kearney is $2,820 lower than at Northern State.
Lean Northern State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Northern State lists $3,949 less per year in tuition and housing than Nebraska at Kearney.
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 | Nebraska at Kearney | Northern State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,302 — Nebraska at Kearney leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $8,845 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $14,260 | $11,947 — Northern State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $11,936 | $10,300 — Northern State leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $20,238 | $19,145 — Northern 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. | $26,196 | $22,247 — Northern 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 | Nebraska at Kearney | Northern State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% — Nebraska at Kearney leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 52% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $50,105/yr — Nebraska at Kearney leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $47,618/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 — Nebraska at Kearney leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $22,320 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 39% — Nebraska at Kearney leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 47% |
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 | Nebraska at Kearney | Northern State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 89% | 93% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 6,017 | 3,521 |
| Where it is | Kearney, NE | Aberdeen, SD |
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 | Nebraska at Kearney | Northern State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MIAA | NSIC |
| Head coach | Katie Ackermann | Kaley Ness |
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 | Nebraska at Kearney | Northern State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | 1 listed |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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. 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.
Nebraska at Kearney
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- All Skills Camp08/30/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $90
Nebraska at Kearney vs Northern State: common questions
- Is Nebraska at Kearney or Northern State cheaper?
- On published price, Northern State is cheaper — about $22,247 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $26,196 at Nebraska at Kearney. 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, Nebraska at Kearney or Northern State?
- Nebraska at Kearney, at 60% against 52% at Northern State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Nebraska at Kearney and Northern State 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.
- Do Nebraska at Kearney and Northern State run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 1 at Nebraska at Kearney and 1 at Northern State. 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 Nebraska at Kearney and Northern State?
- 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 Nebraska at Kearney and Northern State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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