Texas A&M Kingsville vs Western New Mexico: Softball Program Comparison

Two D2 programs in the LSC. Western New Mexico runs $11,635 less per year out of state; Texas A&M Kingsville graduates 11 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 Texas A&M Kingsville if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Texas A&M Kingsville graduates 11 percentage points more of its students than Western New Mexico.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Texas A&M Kingsville graduates earn about $12,355 more per year a decade after enrolling.

Lean Western New Mexico if…

  • You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Western New Mexico lists $11,635 less per year in tuition and housing than Texas A&M Kingsville.
  • You would be in-state: Western New Mexico is $2,024 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Texas A&M Kingsville.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Western New Mexico against none listed at Texas A&M Kingsville.

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: Texas A&M Kingsville compared with Western New Mexico
MeasureTexas A&M KingsvilleWestern New Mexico
In-state tuition & fees$9,892$7,868 Western New Mexico leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition
Out-of-state tuition & fees$26,106$14,354 Western New Mexico leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition
Room & board$10,823$10,940
Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$20,715$18,808 Western New Mexico 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.$36,929$25,294 Western New Mexico leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost

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: Texas A&M Kingsville compared with Western New Mexico
MeasureTexas A&M KingsvilleWestern New Mexico
Graduation rate46% Texas A&M Kingsville leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree35%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$51,450/yr Texas A&M Kingsville leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$39,095/yr
Median debt at graduation$22,934$23,000
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.45% Texas A&M Kingsville leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn59%

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: Texas A&M Kingsville compared with Western New Mexico
MeasureTexas A&M KingsvilleWestern New Mexico
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.91%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.6,5623,570
Where it isKingsville, TXSilver City, NM

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: Texas A&M Kingsville compared with Western New Mexico
MeasureTexas A&M KingsvilleWestern New Mexico
Head coachOrlando SalinasAshley Hickman

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: Texas A&M Kingsville compared with Western New Mexico
MeasureTexas A&M KingsvilleWestern New Mexico
Camps we track2 listed (2 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

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.

How D2 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.

Texas A&M Kingsville

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.

Western New Mexico

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Texas A&M Kingsville vs Western New Mexico: common questions

Is Texas A&M Kingsville or Western New Mexico cheaper?
On published price, Western New Mexico is cheaper — about $25,294 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $36,929 at Texas A&M Kingsville. 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, Texas A&M Kingsville or Western New Mexico?
Texas A&M Kingsville, at 46% against 35% at Western New Mexico (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Texas A&M Kingsville and Western New Mexico 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 Texas A&M Kingsville and Western New Mexico run softball camps?
We track 2 camps at Western New Mexico and none currently listed at Texas A&M Kingsville. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Texas A&M Kingsville and Western New Mexico?
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 Texas A&M Kingsville and Western New Mexico accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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