Southwestern Christian vs Wayland Baptist: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs in the SAC. Southwestern Christian runs $1,826 less per year; Wayland Baptist graduates 6 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 Southwestern Christian if…
- The number on the bill matters: Southwestern Christian lists $1,826 less per year in tuition and housing than Wayland Baptist, and neither charges by residency.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Southwestern Christian is $2,391 lower than at Wayland Baptist.
Lean Wayland Baptist if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Wayland Baptist graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Southwestern Christian.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Wayland Baptist graduates earn about $11,447 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 | Southwestern Christian | Wayland Baptist |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $21,316 — Southwestern Christian leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $23,186 |
| Room & board | $9,400 | $9,356 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $30,716 — Southwestern Christian leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $32,542 |
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 | Southwestern Christian | Wayland Baptist |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 13% | 19% — Wayland Baptist leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $40,391/yr | $51,838/yr — Wayland Baptist leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,715 — Southwestern Christian leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $23,106 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 51% | 45% — Wayland Baptist 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 | Southwestern Christian | Wayland Baptist |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 56% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 364 | 2,861 |
| Where it is | Bethany, OK | Plainview, 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 | Southwestern Christian | Wayland Baptist |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kent Williams | Enrique Villa |
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 | Southwestern Christian | Wayland Baptist |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | 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.
Southwestern Christian
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Wayland Baptist
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.
Southwestern Christian vs Wayland Baptist: common questions
- Is Southwestern Christian or Wayland Baptist cheaper?
- On published price, Southwestern Christian is cheaper — about $30,716 a year in tuition and housing, against $32,542 at Wayland Baptist. 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, Southwestern Christian or Wayland Baptist?
- Wayland Baptist, at 19% against 13% at Southwestern Christian (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Southwestern Christian and Wayland Baptist 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 Southwestern Christian and Wayland Baptist?
- Wayland Baptist runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Southwestern Christian, 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 Southwestern Christian and Wayland Baptist 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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