Northwest Missouri State vs Winona State: Softball Program Comparison

Two D2 programs. Winona State runs $1,257 less per year out of state; Winona State 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 Northwest Missouri State if…

  • You would be in-state: Northwest Missouri State is $317 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Winona State.
  • Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Northwest Missouri State admits 86% of applicants.

Lean Winona State if…

  • You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Winona State lists $1,257 less per year in tuition and housing than Northwest Missouri State.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Winona State graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Northwest Missouri State.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Winona State graduates earn about $10,647 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Winona State against none listed at Northwest Missouri State.

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: Northwest Missouri State compared with Winona State
MeasureNorthwest Missouri StateWinona State
In-state tuition & fees$10,181 Northwest Missouri State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition$10,498
Out-of-state tuition & fees$16,623 Northwest Missouri State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition$17,230
Room & board$11,788$9,924 Winona State leads on this measure: lower room & board
Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$21,969$20,422 Winona State 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.$28,411$27,154 Winona State 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.

What you leave with: Northwest Missouri State compared with Winona State
MeasureNorthwest Missouri StateWinona State
Graduation rate58%61% Winona State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$47,885/yr$58,532/yr Winona State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out
Median debt at graduation$21,500$21,500
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.45%37% Winona State 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: Northwest Missouri State compared with Winona State
MeasureNorthwest Missouri StateWinona State
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.86%75%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.9,6646,058
Where it isMaryville, MOWinona, MN

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: Northwest Missouri State compared with Winona State
MeasureNorthwest Missouri StateWinona State
ConferenceMIAANSIC
Head coachNaomi TellezGreg Jones

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: Northwest Missouri State compared with Winona State
MeasureNorthwest Missouri StateWinona State
Camps we track1 listed (1 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

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.

How D2 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.

Northwest Missouri State

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.

Winona State

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

  • Fall Camp09/27/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $105

Northwest Missouri State vs Winona State: common questions

Is Northwest Missouri State or Winona State cheaper?
On published price, Winona State is cheaper — about $27,154 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $28,411 at Northwest Missouri State. 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, Northwest Missouri State or Winona State?
Winona State, at 61% against 58% at Northwest Missouri State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Northwest Missouri State and Winona State 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 Northwest Missouri State and Winona State run softball camps?
We track 1 camp at Winona State and none currently listed at Northwest Missouri State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Northwest Missouri State and Winona State?
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 Northwest Missouri State and Winona State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

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