New Mexico vs North Texas: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. North Texas runs $6,285 less per year out of state; North Texas graduates 7 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 if…
- You would be in-state: New Mexico is $3,049 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than North Texas.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at New Mexico is $800 lower than at North Texas.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: New Mexico admits 95% of applicants.
Lean North Texas if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: North Texas lists $6,285 less per year in tuition and housing than New Mexico.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: North Texas graduates 7 percentage points more of its students than New Mexico.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: North Texas graduates earn about $12,218 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to play in June: North Texas has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than New Mexico 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 | North Texas |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,115 — New Mexico leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $11,164 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $26,450 | $21,244 — North Texas leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $11,884 | $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. | $19,999 — New Mexico 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. | $38,334 | $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 | North Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 53% | 60% — North Texas leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $44,792/yr | $57,010/yr — North Texas leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,450 — New Mexico 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. | 41% | 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 | North Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 95% | 72% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 22,700 | 47,507 |
| Where it is | Albuquerque, 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 | North Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Mountain West | American |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | 1 of the last 6 tournaments |
| Head coach | Nicole Orgeron | 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 | North Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed |
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | 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
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.
New Mexico vs North Texas: common questions
- Is New Mexico or North Texas cheaper?
- On published price, North Texas is cheaper — about $32,049 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $38,334 at New Mexico. 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 or North Texas?
- North Texas, at 60% against 53% at New Mexico (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do New Mexico 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 and North Texas run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at North Texas and none currently listed at New Mexico. 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 and North Texas?
- North Texas runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For New Mexico, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 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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