Southwest Minnesota State vs Winona State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the NSIC. Southwest Minnesota State runs $6,184 less per year out of state; Winona State graduates 17 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 Southwest Minnesota State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Southwest Minnesota State lists $6,184 less per year in tuition and housing than Winona State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Southwest Minnesota State is $1,000 lower than at Winona State.
- Your transcript is a strength: Southwest Minnesota State admits 62% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Winona State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Winona State graduates 17 percentage points more of its students than Southwest Minnesota State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Winona State graduates earn about $7,190 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Winona State against none listed at Southwest Minnesota State.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Winona State admits 75% 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 | Southwest Minnesota State | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $10,304 | $10,498 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $10,304 — Southwest Minnesota State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $17,230 |
| Room & board | $10,666 | $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. | $20,970 | $20,422 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $20,970 — Southwest Minnesota State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $27,154 |
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 | Southwest Minnesota State | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 44% | 61% — Winona State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $51,342/yr | $58,532/yr — Winona State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 — Southwest Minnesota State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $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. | 40% | 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.
| Measure | Southwest Minnesota State | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 62% | 75% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 7,324 | 6,058 |
| Where it is | Marshall, MN | Winona, 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.
| Measure | Southwest Minnesota State | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Bailey Bouman | Greg 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.
| Measure | Southwest Minnesota State | Winona State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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.
Southwest Minnesota State
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.
Winona State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Fall Camp09/27/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $105
Southwest Minnesota State vs Winona State: common questions
- Is Southwest Minnesota State or Winona State cheaper?
- On published price, Southwest Minnesota State is cheaper — about $20,970 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $27,154 at Winona 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, Southwest Minnesota State or Winona State?
- Winona State, at 61% against 44% at Southwest Minnesota State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Southwest Minnesota 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 Southwest Minnesota State and Winona State run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Winona State and none currently listed at Southwest Minnesota State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Southwest Minnesota 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 Southwest Minnesota State and Winona State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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