Northwestern Softball
Northwestern University · Wildcats
Big Ten · Evanston, IL
$68K
In-state tuition
Up to 25
Scholarships
allowed under 2025 roster-limit rules (funding varies by program)
95%
Graduation rate
Room & board: $20K
WCWS 1 of last 5 years
Tuition and graduation rate: College Scorecard, released June 10, 2026. Room and board: IPEDS 2023-2024.
Northwestern softball at a glance
Where the program sits and what a year here costs. How athletic aid works in D1.
- Conference level
- Power Conference
- In the job since
- 2002
- Est. year, all in
- $88,656Tuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.
- Debt as a share of year-10 pay
- 17%Median debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.
- Total enrollment
- 23,203
Cost, debt and enrollment: IPEDS 2023-2024 and College Scorecard (released June 10, 2026). Conference level and coaching data: CommitBound.
Program Info
- Division
- D1
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Location
- Evanston, IL
- Scholarships
- Up to 25 (2025 roster rules)
Coaching Staff
Kate Drohan
Head Coach
Caryl Drohan
Associate Head Coach
Michelle Gascoigne
Assistant Coach
Tony Smith
Assistant Coach
Something wrong? Report a coaching change
Camps & Clinics
Fall Mini Monday Night Academies | November 16th
- Date
- 11/16/2026
- Cost
- $70 + fees
- Age Group
- 5th Grade - 12th Grade
The listing doesn't say what kind of camp this is — check the registration page.
Register at official siteTravelling in? 1 night in Evanston, IL, Nov 16–Nov 17. Check hotel prices →
From Ryzer, checked . Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.
Winter Youth and Middle School Camp
- Date
- 12/06/2026
- Cost
- $60 - $150 + fees
- Age Group
- 3rd Grade - 8th Grade
For younger players, roughly 8th grade and under — development, not recruiting.
Register at official siteTravelling in? 1 night in Evanston, IL, Dec 6–Dec 7. Check hotel prices →
From Ryzer, checked . Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.
2027 Winter Elite Camp
- Date
- 01/03/2027
- Cost
- $245 + fees
- Age Group
- 9th Grade - 12th Grade
Run by the program's staff to see and evaluate players — the kind of camp that matters for recruiting.
Register at official siteTravelling in? 1 night in Evanston, IL, Jan 3–Jan 4. Check hotel prices →
From Ryzer, checked . Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.
2027 Pitching Winter Elite Camp
- Date
- 01/03/2027
- Cost
- See registration
- Age Group
- High School
Run by the program's staff to see and evaluate players — the kind of camp that matters for recruiting.
Register at official siteFrom the school's athletics site, checked . Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.
Camp Tips for Recruits
- Bring printed copies of your recruiting profile to hand to coaches after your session.
- College camps at your target schools offer the best return on investment — coaches see you on their campus.
- Contact the coaching staff BEFORE attending their camp to express your interest. They will watch more closely.
What Northwestern Coaches Look For
Recruiting benchmarks for Power 4 programs. Min = on the radar, Competitive = solidly in the pool, Elite = stands out.
See how your metrics compare to Northwestern's standards.
Try CalculatorBenchmarks compiled from recruiting services. Individual programs may have different expectations based on roster needs.
Quick Fit Check
Enter your top metrics to see how you compare to Northwestern's Power 4 standards.
Recruiting Timeline
D1 contact rules for Northwestern. Select your graduation year to see personalized deadlines.
Class of 2028 — currently a Junior
When Coaches Can Contact You
1 p.m. Central on September 1 of junior year — coaches can call, text, email, and DM on social media
Campus Visits
Official and unofficial visits are allowed from 1 p.m. Central on September 1 of junior year, but a dead period usually covers the first days of September (August 28–September 3 in 2026-27), so visits start once it ends. Walking a campus on your own is allowed anytime.
Offers & Commitments
No recruiting conversations, so no verbal offers, before 1 p.m. Central on September 1 of junior year; verbal offers are not binding. A school can't put an aid offer in writing until August 1 of senior year. Softball has one signing date (the second Wednesday of November of senior year) and no separate spring period; each school sets its own final deadline. (The written offer of athletics aid replaced the NLI in October 2024.)
Key Dates
- 1 p.m. Central, September 1 of junior year — calls, texts, emails and DMs open; visits follow after the early-September dead period
- August 1 of senior year — a school may put an aid offer in writing
- Second Wednesday of November, senior year — signing opens (no spring period)
Updated for 2026-27 NCAA rules
Ready to start your recruiting journey?
Create your accountNorthwestern softball roster outlook
Northwestern carries 22 players on its 2026-2027 roster. 5 seniors and graduate students leave after this season, the most at infielders (2).
- Pitchers: 1 leaving, 6 returning.1 leaving
- Catchers: 1 leaving, 1 returning.1 leaving
- Infielders: 2 leaving, 6 returning.2 leaving
- Outfielders: 1 leaving, 3 returning.1 leaving
- Utility: 0 leaving, 1 returning.0 leaving
See as a table
| Position | Leaving | Returning |
|---|---|---|
| Pitchers | 1 | 6 |
| Catchers | 1 | 1 |
| Infielders | 2 | 6 |
| Outfielders | 1 | 3 |
| Utility | 0 | 1 |
From the program's published 2026-2027 roster. “Leaving” counts seniors and graduate students; juniors who transfer or leave early are not included, and players with remaining eligibility can return.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get recruited by Northwestern University softball?
Start by filling out the Northwestern University recruiting questionnaire, then email the coaching staff directly. Attend camps and showcases where Northwestern University coaches are present. CommitBound can help you track your outreach and build recruiting habits.
Does Northwestern University offer softball scholarships?
Northwestern University is a D1 program. Up to 25 scholarships are allowed under the 2025 roster-limit rules, though funding varies by program.
When are Northwestern University softball camps?
Northwestern University has 4 camps listed. Check the camps section above for dates, costs, and registration links.
Who is the head coach at Northwestern University?
The current head coach is Kate Drohan. Check the school's athletic site for contact information.
Location
Recruiting Difficulty
This is an elite D1 program. Recruits typically have extensive travel ball experience, strong academics, and begin the recruiting process early.
Graduate Outcomes
- Median earnings (10yr)
- $89,363/yr
- Median earnings (6yr)
- $76,844/yr
- Median student debt
- $15,000
- Admission rate
- 8%
Consider ROI — 10-year median earnings vs. four years of published tuition
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Academic Profile
- Avg. net price
- $29,167/yr
- Students on Pell Grant
- 19%
- SAT range (EBRW + Math)
- 1510–1570
- ACT range
- 33–35
Avg. net price is the actual average cost after aid — not sticker tuition. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released June 10, 2026.
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Quick Facts
- Division
- D1
- Conference
- Big Ten
- State
- IL
- Camps Listed
- 4
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Northwestern Recruiting Guide
How to get recruited, costs, scholarships, and what coaches look for
Northwestern Recruiting Questionnaire
Direct link to the official questionnaire and what to have ready
Northwestern Coach Contact
Coaching staff, verified email access, and how to write your first email
Northwestern Softball Camps
Camp dates, registration links, and how to prepare
All Recruiting Guides
Step-by-step guides for every stage of recruiting
We work hard to keep all data for Northwestern accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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