Olivet Nazarene vs Texas Wesleyan: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Olivet Nazarene runs $2,428 less per year; Olivet Nazarene graduates 28 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 Olivet Nazarene if…
- The number on the bill matters: Olivet Nazarene lists $2,428 less per year in tuition and housing than Texas Wesleyan, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Olivet Nazarene graduates 28 percentage points more of its students than Texas Wesleyan.
- Your transcript is a strength: Olivet Nazarene admits 56% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Texas Wesleyan if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Texas Wesleyan is $1,875 lower than at Olivet Nazarene.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Texas Wesleyan admits 69% of applicants.
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 | Olivet Nazarene | Texas Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $37,940 | $37,934 |
| Room & board | $10,590 — Olivet Nazarene leads on this measure: lower room & board | $13,024 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $48,530 — Olivet Nazarene leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $50,958 |
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 | Olivet Nazarene | Texas Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% — Olivet Nazarene leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 32% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $53,213/yr | $54,053/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 | $23,125 — Texas Wesleyan 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% | 43% — Texas Wesleyan 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 | Olivet Nazarene | Texas Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 56% | 69% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,275 | 2,595 |
| Where it is | Bourbonnais, IL | Fort Worth, 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.
| Measure | Olivet Nazarene | Texas Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CCAC | SAC |
| Head coach | Lauren Herlihy | Shannon Gower |
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 | Olivet Nazarene | Texas Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | 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.
Olivet Nazarene
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.
Texas Wesleyan
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.
Olivet Nazarene vs Texas Wesleyan: common questions
- Is Olivet Nazarene or Texas Wesleyan cheaper?
- On published price, Olivet Nazarene is cheaper — about $48,530 a year in tuition and housing, against $50,958 at Texas Wesleyan. 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, Olivet Nazarene or Texas Wesleyan?
- Olivet Nazarene, at 60% against 32% at Texas Wesleyan (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Olivet Nazarene and Texas Wesleyan 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 Olivet Nazarene and Texas Wesleyan?
- 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 Olivet Nazarene and Texas Wesleyan accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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