Northern State vs Purdue Northwest: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Northern State runs $2,470 less per year out of state; Northern State graduates 8 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 State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Northern State lists $2,470 less per year in tuition and housing than Purdue Northwest.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Northern State graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than Purdue Northwest.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Northern State against none listed at Purdue Northwest.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Northern State admits 93% of applicants.
Lean Purdue Northwest if…
- You would be in-state: Purdue Northwest is $426 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Northern State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Purdue Northwest is $1,091 lower than at Northern State.
- Your transcript is a strength: Purdue Northwest admits 72% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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 State | Purdue Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,845 | $8,419 — Purdue Northwest leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $11,947 — Northern State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $15,620 |
| Room & board | $10,300 | $9,097 — Purdue Northwest leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $19,145 | $17,516 — Purdue Northwest 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. | $22,247 — Northern State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $24,717 |
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 State | Purdue Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 52% — Northern State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 44% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $47,618/yr | $48,318/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,320 | $21,229 — Purdue Northwest 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. | 47% | 44% — Purdue Northwest 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 State | Purdue Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 93% | 72% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,521 | 8,679 |
| Where it is | Aberdeen, SD | Hammond, IN |
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 State | Purdue Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | NSIC | GLIAC |
| Head coach | Kaley Ness | Claire Schapker |
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 State | Purdue Northwest |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
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.
Purdue Northwest
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 State vs Purdue Northwest: common questions
- Is Northern State or Purdue Northwest cheaper?
- On published price, Northern State is cheaper — about $22,247 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $24,717 at Purdue Northwest. 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 State or Purdue Northwest?
- Northern State, at 52% against 44% at Purdue Northwest (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Northern State and Purdue Northwest offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- Do Northern State and Purdue Northwest run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Northern State and none currently listed at Purdue Northwest. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Northern State and Purdue Northwest?
- 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 Northern State and Purdue Northwest accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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