North Alabama vs Winthrop: Softball Program Comparison

Two D1 programs. North Alabama runs $10,684 less per year out of state; Winthrop 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 North Alabama if…

  • You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: North Alabama lists $10,684 less per year in tuition and housing than Winthrop.
  • You would be in-state: North Alabama is $3,966 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Winthrop.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at North Alabama is $4,898 lower than at Winthrop.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at North Alabama against none listed at Winthrop.

Lean Winthrop if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Winthrop graduates 7 percentage points more of its students than North Alabama.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Winthrop graduates earn about $1,770 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.

What it costs to go there: North Alabama compared with Winthrop
MeasureNorth AlabamaWinthrop
In-state tuition & fees$11,990 North Alabama leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition$15,956
Out-of-state tuition & fees$22,190 North Alabama leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition$30,286
Room & board$7,900 North Alabama leads on this measure: lower room & board$10,488
Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$19,890 North Alabama leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost$26,444
Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$30,090 North Alabama leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost$40,774

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.

What you leave with: North Alabama compared with Winthrop
MeasureNorth AlabamaWinthrop
Graduation rate54%61% Winthrop leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$45,415/yr$47,185/yr Winthrop leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out
Median debt at graduation$22,077 North Alabama leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door$26,975
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.49% North Alabama leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn57%

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: North Alabama compared with Winthrop
MeasureNorth AlabamaWinthrop
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.87%79%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.10,0594,694
Where it isFlorence, ALRock Hill, SC

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.

The softball program itself: North Alabama compared with Winthrop
MeasureNorth AlabamaWinthrop
ConferenceUACBig South
NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only.None since 2021None since 2021
Head coachAshley CozartKendall Fuller

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.

How you actually get in front of them: North Alabama compared with Winthrop
MeasureNorth AlabamaWinthrop
Camps we track1 listed (1 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

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.

How D1 softball scholarships actually work →

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.

North Alabama

Find the recruiting questionnaire

We do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.

Camps we track

Winthrop

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

North Alabama vs Winthrop: common questions

Is North Alabama or Winthrop cheaper?
On published price, North Alabama is cheaper — about $30,090 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $40,774 at Winthrop. 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, North Alabama or Winthrop?
Winthrop, at 61% against 54% at North Alabama (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do North Alabama and Winthrop 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 North Alabama and Winthrop run softball camps?
We track 1 camp at North Alabama and none currently listed at Winthrop. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at North Alabama and Winthrop?
Winthrop runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For North Alabama, 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 North Alabama and Winthrop accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

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