Northern Colorado vs Washington: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Northern Colorado runs $18,545 less per year out of state; Washington graduates 33 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 Northern Colorado if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Northern Colorado lists $18,545 less per year in tuition and housing than Washington.
- You would be in-state: Northern Colorado is $633 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Washington.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 4 camps at Northern Colorado against none listed at Washington.
- You want the more realistic path to a roster spot: Northern Colorado rates competitive to recruit against very competitive at Washington.
Lean Washington if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Washington graduates 33 percentage points more of its students than Northern Colorado.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Washington graduates earn about $26,235 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Washington is $5,855 lower than at Northern Colorado.
- You want to play in June: Washington has reached 4 more NCAA tournaments than Northern Colorado 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 | Northern Colorado | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $12,010 — Northern Colorado leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $12,643 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $26,204 — Northern Colorado leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $41,997 |
| Room & board | $15,230 — Northern Colorado leads on this measure: lower room & board | $17,982 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $27,240 — Northern Colorado leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $30,625 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $41,434 — Northern Colorado leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $59,979 |
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 | Northern Colorado | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 51% | 84% — Washington leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $52,231/yr | $78,466/yr — Washington leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,470 | $14,615 — Washington 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. | 39% | 19% — Washington 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 | Northern Colorado | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 86% | 39% |
| U.S. News rankU.S. News Best Colleges 2026. Only ranked institutions appear. | — | #40 |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 9,067 | 55,620 |
| Where it is | Greeley, CO | Seattle, WA |
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 | Northern Colorado | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Big Sky | Big Ten |
| Conference level | Mid-Major | Power Conference |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 2 of the last 6 tournaments | 6 of the last 6 tournaments (1 WCWS) |
| NCAA RPI | — | #18 |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Solid | Strong |
| Recruiting difficultyHow hard it typically is to earn a roster spot here. | Competitive | Very Competitive |
| Head coach | Dedeann Pendleton-Helm | Heather Tarr |
| In the job since | — | 2018 |
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 | Northern Colorado | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 4 listed (4 with dates) | — |
| 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.
Northern Colorado
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- UNC Softball Prospect Camp | August 22nd | Session 108/22/2026 · 8th Grade - College Sophomore · $125
- UNC Softball Prospect Camp | August 22nd | Session 208/22/2026 · 8th Grade - College Sophomore · $175
- UNC Softball Prospect Camp | September 12th | Session 109/12/2026 · 8th Grade - College Sophomore · $125
- UNC Softball Prospect Camp | September 12th | Session 209/12/2026 · 8th Grade - College Sophomore · $175
Washington
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.
Northern Colorado vs Washington: common questions
- Is Northern Colorado or Washington cheaper?
- On published price, Northern Colorado is cheaper — about $41,434 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $59,979 at Washington. 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, Northern Colorado or Washington?
- Washington, at 84% against 51% at Northern Colorado (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Northern Colorado and Washington 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.
- Which is harder to get recruited by?
- Washington rates very competitive against competitive at Northern Colorado. This is an elite D1 program. Recruits typically have extensive travel ball experience, strong academics, and begin the recruiting process early.
- Do Northern Colorado and Washington run softball camps?
- We track 4 camps at Northern Colorado and none currently listed at Washington. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Northern Colorado and Washington?
- Washington runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Northern Colorado, 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 Northern Colorado and Washington accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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