Northwestern Ohio vs Park: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Northwestern Ohio runs $4,027 less per year; Northwestern Ohio graduates 24 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 Northwestern Ohio if…
- The number on the bill matters: Northwestern Ohio lists $4,027 less per year in tuition and housing than Park, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Northwestern Ohio graduates 24 percentage points more of its students than Park.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Northwestern Ohio is $4,601 lower than at Park.
Lean Park if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Park graduates earn about $5,341 more per year a decade after enrolling.
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 | Northwestern Ohio | Park |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $12,930 — Northwestern Ohio leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $16,400 |
| Room & board | $8,421 — Northwestern Ohio leads on this measure: lower room & board | $8,978 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $21,351 — Northwestern Ohio leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $25,378 |
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 | Northwestern Ohio | Park |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 54% — Northwestern Ohio leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 30% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $50,968/yr | $56,309/yr — Park leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,084 — Northwestern Ohio leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $21,685 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 34% — Northwestern Ohio leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 39% |
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 | Northwestern Ohio | Park |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,606 | 6,634 |
| Where it is | Lima, OH | Parkville, MO |
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 | Northwestern Ohio | Park |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | WHAC | AMC |
| Head coach | Billy Glessner | Lindsey Derry |
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 | Northwestern Ohio | Park |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NAIA, so the scholarship rules are identical: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Northwestern Ohio
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.
Park
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.
Northwestern Ohio vs Park: common questions
- Is Northwestern Ohio or Park cheaper?
- On published price, Northwestern Ohio is cheaper — about $21,351 a year in tuition and housing, against $25,378 at Park. 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, Northwestern Ohio or Park?
- Northwestern Ohio, at 54% against 30% at Park (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Northwestern Ohio and Park offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NAIA: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Northwestern Ohio and Park?
- 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 Northwestern Ohio and Park 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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