Tarleton State vs UTEP: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Tarleton State runs $7,572 less per year out of state; Tarleton State graduates 5 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 Tarleton State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Tarleton State lists $7,572 less per year in tuition and housing than UTEP.
- You would be in-state: Tarleton State is $1,866 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than UTEP.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Tarleton State graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than UTEP.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Tarleton State graduates earn about $2,117 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean UTEP if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at UTEP is $1,606 lower than at Tarleton State.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at UTEP against none listed at Tarleton State.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: UTEP admits 100% 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 | Tarleton State | UTEP |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $7,878 — Tarleton State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $9,744 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $17,958 — Tarleton State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $25,512 |
| Room & board | $10,846 | $10,864 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,724 — Tarleton State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $20,608 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $28,804 — Tarleton State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $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.
| Measure | Tarleton State | UTEP |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 51% — Tarleton State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 46% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $53,040/yr — Tarleton State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $50,923/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,606 | $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. | 37% | 35% — UTEP 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 | Tarleton State | UTEP |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 90% | 100% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 15,937 | 24,351 |
| Where it is | Stephenville, TX | El 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.
| Measure | Tarleton State | UTEP |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | UAC | CUSA |
| Conference level | Mid-Major | High Major |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Mark Cumpian | T.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.
| Measure | Tarleton State | UTEP |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 2 listed |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
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.
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.
Tarleton 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.
Tarleton State vs UTEP: common questions
- Is Tarleton State or UTEP cheaper?
- On published price, Tarleton State is cheaper — about $28,804 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $36,376 at UTEP. 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, Tarleton State or UTEP?
- Tarleton State, at 51% against 46% at UTEP (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Tarleton 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.
- Do Tarleton State and UTEP run softball camps?
- We track 2 camps at UTEP and none currently listed at Tarleton State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Tarleton 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 Tarleton State and UTEP accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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