Tulsa vs Valparaiso: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Valparaiso lists $2,014 less in tuition; Tulsa 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 Tulsa if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Tulsa graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Valparaiso.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Tulsa is $5,442 lower than at Valparaiso.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 4 camps at Tulsa against none listed at Valparaiso.
- Your transcript is a strength: Tulsa admits 62% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Valparaiso if…
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Valparaiso admits 89% 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 | Tulsa | Valparaiso |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $48,602 | $46,588 — Valparaiso leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $11,192 — Tulsa leads on this measure: lower room & board | $13,306 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $59,794 | $59,894 |
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 | Tulsa | Valparaiso |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 73% — Tulsa leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 67% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $61,408/yr | $63,191/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 — Tulsa leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $26,942 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 35% — Tulsa leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 43% |
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 | Tulsa | Valparaiso |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 62% | 89% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,559 | 2,846 |
| Where it is | Tulsa, OK | Valparaiso, IN |
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 | Tulsa | Valparaiso |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | American | Missouri Valley |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | DJ Gasso | Mike Armitage |
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 | Tulsa | Valparaiso |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 4 listed (4 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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.
Tulsa
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Pitching Clinic | March 16th03/16/2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2025 · $59.00
- Pitching Clinic | March 23rd03/23/2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2025 · $59.00
- Pitching Clinic | March 30th03/30/2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2025 · $59.00
- Tulsa Softball Elite Project Camp08/23/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $205
Valparaiso
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.
Tulsa vs Valparaiso: common questions
- Is Tulsa or Valparaiso cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $59,794 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Tulsa or Valparaiso?
- Tulsa, at 73% against 67% at Valparaiso (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Tulsa and Valparaiso 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 Tulsa and Valparaiso run softball camps?
- We track 4 camps at Tulsa and none currently listed at Valparaiso. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Tulsa and Valparaiso?
- 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 Tulsa and Valparaiso accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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