North Texas vs UT Arlington: Softball Program Comparison

Two D1 programs. North Texas runs $8,193 less per year out of state; North Texas graduates 3 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 Texas if…

  • You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: North Texas lists $8,193 less per year in tuition and housing than UT Arlington.
  • You would be in-state: North Texas is $564 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than UT Arlington.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: North Texas graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than UT Arlington.
  • You want to play in June: North Texas has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than UT Arlington since 2021.

Lean UT Arlington if…

  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: UT Arlington graduates earn about $6,189 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at UT Arlington is $1,723 lower than at North Texas.

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 Texas compared with UT Arlington
MeasureNorth TexasUT Arlington
In-state tuition & fees$11,164 North Texas leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition$11,728
Out-of-state tuition & fees$21,244 North Texas leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition$29,660
Room & board$10,805$10,582
Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$21,969$22,310
Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$32,049 North Texas leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost$40,242

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 Texas compared with UT Arlington
MeasureNorth TexasUT Arlington
Graduation rate60% North Texas leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree57%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$57,010/yr$63,199/yr UT Arlington leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out
Median debt at graduation$19,250$17,527 UT Arlington leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.34%28% UT Arlington 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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: North Texas compared with UT Arlington
MeasureNorth TexasUT Arlington
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.72%80%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.47,50743,992
Where it isDenton, TXArlington, 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.

The softball program itself: North Texas compared with UT Arlington
MeasureNorth TexasUT Arlington
ConferenceAmericanUAC
Conference levelHigh MajorMid-Major
NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only.1 of the last 6 tournamentsNone since 2021
Head coachCody WhiteKara Dill

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 Texas compared with UT Arlington
MeasureNorth TexasUT Arlington
Camps we track1 listed
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

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.

UT Arlington

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 Texas vs UT Arlington: common questions

Is North Texas or UT Arlington cheaper?
On published price, North Texas is cheaper — about $32,049 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $40,242 at UT Arlington. 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 Texas or UT Arlington?
North Texas, at 60% against 57% at UT Arlington (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do North Texas and UT Arlington 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 Texas and UT Arlington run softball camps?
We track 1 camp at North Texas and none currently listed at UT Arlington. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at North Texas and UT Arlington?
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 North Texas and UT Arlington accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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