Oklahoma State vs UTEP: Softball Program Comparison

Two D1 programs. Oklahoma State graduates 20 points more of its students; Oklahoma State graduates earn $6,490 more a decade out.

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 Oklahoma State if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Oklahoma State graduates 20 percentage points more of its students than UTEP.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Oklahoma State graduates earn about $6,490 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • You want to play in June: Oklahoma State has reached 6 more NCAA tournaments than UTEP since 2021.
  • You want the stronger program on paper: Oklahoma State rates strong against solid at UTEP.

Lean UTEP if…

  • You would be in-state: UTEP is $490 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Oklahoma State.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at UTEP is $2,500 lower than at Oklahoma State.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at UTEP against none listed at Oklahoma State.
  • You want the more realistic path to a roster spot: UTEP rates competitive to recruit against very competitive at Oklahoma 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: Oklahoma State compared with UTEP
MeasureOklahoma StateUTEP
In-state tuition & fees$10,234$9,744 UTEP leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition
Out-of-state tuition & fees$25,754$25,512
Room & board$11,300$10,864 UTEP leads on this measure: lower room & board
Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$21,534$20,608 UTEP 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.$37,054$36,376

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: Oklahoma State compared with UTEP
MeasureOklahoma StateUTEP
Graduation rate66% Oklahoma State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree46%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$57,413/yr Oklahoma State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$50,923/yr
Median debt at graduation$20,500$18,000 UTEP 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.36%35%

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: Oklahoma State compared with UTEP
MeasureOklahoma StateUTEP
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.75%100%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.26,04324,351
Where it isStillwater, OKEl Paso, TX

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: Oklahoma State compared with UTEP
MeasureOklahoma StateUTEP
ConferenceBig 12CUSA
Conference levelPower ConferenceHigh Major
NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only.6 of the last 6 tournaments (4 WCWS)None since 2021
Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability.StrongSolid
Recruiting difficultyHow hard it typically is to earn a roster spot here.Very CompetitiveCompetitive
Head coachKenny GajewskiT.J. Hubbard

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: Oklahoma State compared with UTEP
MeasureOklahoma StateUTEP
Camps we track1 listed
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

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.

How D1 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.

Oklahoma 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.

Oklahoma State vs UTEP: common questions

Is Oklahoma State or UTEP cheaper?
Published cost is effectively the same — about $37,054 a year out of state in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
Which school graduates more of its students, Oklahoma State or UTEP?
Oklahoma State, at 66% against 46% at UTEP (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Oklahoma State and UTEP 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?
Oklahoma State rates very competitive against competitive at UTEP. This is an elite D1 program. Recruits typically have extensive travel ball experience, strong academics, and begin the recruiting process early.
Do Oklahoma State and UTEP run softball camps?
We track 1 camp at UTEP and none currently listed at Oklahoma State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Oklahoma State and UTEP?
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 Oklahoma State and UTEP accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

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