New Mexico State vs North Texas: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. North Texas runs $5,248 less per year out of state; North Texas 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 New Mexico State if…
- You would be in-state: New Mexico State is $3,017 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than North Texas.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at New Mexico State is $2,155 lower than at North Texas.
Lean North Texas if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: North Texas lists $5,248 less per year in tuition and housing than New Mexico State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: North Texas graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than New Mexico State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: North Texas graduates earn about $17,943 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to play in June: North Texas has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than New Mexico State since 2021.
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 | New Mexico State | North Texas |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,147 — New Mexico State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $11,164 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $25,271 | $21,244 — North Texas leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $12,026 | $10,805 — North Texas leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $20,173 — New Mexico State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $21,969 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $37,297 | $32,049 — North Texas 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 | New Mexico State | North Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 52% | 60% — North Texas leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $39,067/yr | $57,010/yr — North Texas leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,095 — New Mexico State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $19,250 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 44% | 34% — North Texas 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 | New Mexico State | North Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 72% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 14,779 | 47,507 |
| Where it is | Las Cruces, NM | Denton, TX |
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 | New Mexico State | North Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CUSA | American |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | 1 of the last 6 tournaments |
| Head coach | Benet Higgs | Cody White |
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 | New Mexico State | North Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed |
| 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.
New Mexico State
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.
New Mexico State vs North Texas: common questions
- Is New Mexico State or North Texas cheaper?
- On published price, North Texas is cheaper — about $32,049 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $37,297 at New Mexico 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, New Mexico State or North Texas?
- North Texas, at 60% against 52% at New Mexico State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do New Mexico State and North Texas 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 New Mexico State and North Texas run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at North Texas and none currently listed at New Mexico State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at New Mexico State and North Texas?
- 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 New Mexico State and North Texas accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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