North Central vs UW-La Crosse: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. UW-La Crosse runs $30,177 less per year out of state.
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 Central if…
- On the figures we hold, North Central does not lead UW-La Crosse on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
Lean UW-La Crosse if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: UW-La Crosse lists $30,177 less per year in tuition and housing than North Central.
- You would be in-state: UW-La Crosse is $34,743 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than North Central.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at UW-La Crosse against none listed at North Central.
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 | North Central | UW-La Crosse |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $44,394 | $9,651 — UW-La Crosse leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $44,394 | $18,691 — UW-La Crosse leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $12,434 | $7,960 — UW-La Crosse leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $56,828 | $17,611 — UW-La Crosse 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. | $56,828 | $26,651 — UW-La Crosse 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 | North Central | UW-La Crosse |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 71% | 71% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $60,123/yr | — |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,500 | — |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 41% | — |
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 | North Central | UW-La Crosse |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 77% | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,856 | 10,299 |
| Where it is | Naperville, IL | La Crosse, WI |
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 | North Central | UW-La Crosse |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CCIW | WIAC |
| Head coach | Venus Taylor | Sam Korn |
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 | North Central | UW-La Crosse |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
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 Central
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.
UW-La Crosse
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Softball Prospect Camp | August 12th08/12/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $140
North Central vs UW-La Crosse: common questions
- Is North Central or UW-La Crosse cheaper?
- On published price, UW-La Crosse is cheaper — about $26,651 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $56,828 at North Central. 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 Central or UW-La Crosse?
- Both report a 71% graduation rate (IPEDS, 2023-24).
- Do North Central and UW-La Crosse offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- Do North Central and UW-La Crosse run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at UW-La Crosse and none currently listed at North Central. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at North Central and UW-La Crosse?
- North Central runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For UW-La Crosse, 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 Central and UW-La Crosse accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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