Northwood vs Southern Nazarene: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Southern Nazarene runs $6,340 less per year; Northwood graduates 12 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 Northwood if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Northwood graduates 12 percentage points more of its students than Southern Nazarene.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Northwood graduates earn about $8,124 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Northwood is $1,058 lower than at Southern Nazarene.
Lean Southern Nazarene if…
- The number on the bill matters: Southern Nazarene lists $6,340 less per year in tuition and housing than Northwood, and neither charges by residency.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Southern Nazarene against none listed at Northwood.
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 | Northwood | Southern Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $33,000 | $29,600 — Southern Nazarene leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $12,500 | $9,560 — Southern Nazarene leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $45,500 | $39,160 — Southern Nazarene leads on this measure: lower total cost per year |
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 | Northwood | Southern Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 61% — Northwood leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 49% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $63,075/yr — Northwood leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $54,951/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,842 — Northwood leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $21,900 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 33% — Northwood leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 40% |
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 | Northwood | Southern Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 65% | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,360 | 2,165 |
| Where it is | Midland, MI | Bethany, OK |
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 | Northwood | Southern Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | G-MAC | GAC |
| Head coach | Brittney Horan | Brian Madden |
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 | Northwood | Southern Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | 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.
Northwood
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.
Southern Nazarene
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Prospect Camp09/05/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $99
Northwood vs Southern Nazarene: common questions
- Is Northwood or Southern Nazarene cheaper?
- On published price, Southern Nazarene is cheaper — about $39,160 a year in tuition and housing, against $45,500 at Northwood. 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, Northwood or Southern Nazarene?
- Northwood, at 61% against 49% at Southern Nazarene (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Northwood and Southern Nazarene 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 Northwood and Southern Nazarene run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Southern Nazarene and none currently listed at Northwood. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Northwood and Southern Nazarene?
- Northwood runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Southern Nazarene, 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 Northwood and Southern Nazarene accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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