UW-Eau Claire vs Wheaton (IL): Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. UW-Eau Claire runs $28,604 less per year out of state; Wheaton (IL) graduates 19 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 UW-Eau Claire if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: UW-Eau Claire lists $28,604 less per year in tuition and housing than Wheaton (IL).
- You would be in-state: UW-Eau Claire is $34,653 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Wheaton (IL).
Lean Wheaton (IL) if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Wheaton (IL) graduates 19 percentage points more of its students than UW-Eau Claire.
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 | UW-Eau Claire | Wheaton (IL) |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,277 — UW-Eau Claire leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $43,930 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $18,516 — UW-Eau Claire leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $43,930 |
| Room & board | $9,200 — UW-Eau Claire leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,390 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,477 — UW-Eau Claire leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $56,320 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $27,716 — UW-Eau Claire leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $56,320 |
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 | UW-Eau Claire | Wheaton (IL) |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 68% | 87% — Wheaton (IL) leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | — | $63,756/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | — | $23,250 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | — | 36% |
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 | UW-Eau Claire | Wheaton (IL) |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 87% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 9,991 | 2,799 |
| Where it is | Eau Claire, WI | Wheaton, IL |
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 | UW-Eau Claire | Wheaton (IL) |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | WIAC | CCIW |
| Head coach | Leslie Huntington | Amanda Fazzari |
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 | UW-Eau Claire | Wheaton (IL) |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
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.
UW-Eau Claire
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.
Wheaton (IL)
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.
UW-Eau Claire vs Wheaton (IL): common questions
- Is UW-Eau Claire or Wheaton (IL) cheaper?
- On published price, UW-Eau Claire is cheaper — about $27,716 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $56,320 at Wheaton (IL). 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, UW-Eau Claire or Wheaton (IL)?
- Wheaton (IL), at 87% against 68% at UW-Eau Claire (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do UW-Eau Claire and Wheaton (IL) offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- How do I contact the coaches at UW-Eau Claire and Wheaton (IL)?
- 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 UW-Eau Claire and Wheaton (IL) 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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