Northwestern Softball
Northwestern University · Wildcats
Big Ten · Evanston, IL
$66K
In-state tuition
Up to 25
Scholarships
allowed under 2025 roster-limit rules (funding varies by program)
96%
Graduation rate
Room & board: $20K
WCWS 1 of last 5 years
2023-2024 data via IPEDS
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
- $86,331Tuition & 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. 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
c•••@northwestern.eduMichelle Gascoigne
Assistant Coach
m•••@northwestern.eduTony Smith
Assistant Coach
Something wrong? Report a coaching change
Camps & Clinics
Monday Night Academy | October 5th
- Date
- 10/05/2026
- Cost
- See registration
- Age Group
- All ages
Instruction in a skill, often a weekly series — training, not an evaluation.
Register at official siteFrom the school's athletics site, checked . Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.
Monday Night Academy | October 12th
- Date
- 10/12/2026
- Cost
- See registration
- Age Group
- All ages
Instruction in a skill, often a weekly series — training, not an evaluation.
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.
- After any camp, follow up with an email to every coach you interacted with within 48 hours.
- Quality over quantity — 5 well-chosen events beats 15 random ones.
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
September 1 of junior year — coaches can call, text, email, and DM on social media
Campus Visits
Official and unofficial visits with the coaching staff can begin September 1 of junior year (campus visits without recruiting contact are allowed anytime)
Offers & Commitments
Verbal offers can happen anytime (not binding). Written aid offers are signed during the early or regular signing period (the NLI was eliminated in October 2024).
Key Dates
- September 1, junior year — official contact begins
- September 1, junior year — official and unofficial visits can begin
- Early signing period (November) — written aid offer signing
- Regular signing period (April) — written aid offer signing
Updated for 2025-2026 NCAA rules
Ready to start your recruiting journey?
Take the Free AssessmentSee how your profile matches up with Northwestern
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 2 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. Verified coach email access is available with a free CommitBound account.
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; tuition from IPEDS.
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.
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More D1 Programs in IL
Quick Facts
- Division
- D1
- Conference
- Big Ten
- State
- IL
- Camps Listed
- 2
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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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