Embry-Riddle vs Florida Southern: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the SSC. Embry-Riddle graduates earn $28,837 more a decade out.
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 Embry-Riddle if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Embry-Riddle graduates earn about $28,837 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Embry-Riddle is $1,334 lower than at Florida Southern.
Lean Florida Southern if…
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Florida Southern against none listed at Embry-Riddle.
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 | Embry-Riddle | Florida Southern |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $42,304 | $42,360 |
| Room & board | $13,670 | $13,800 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $55,974 | $56,160 |
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 | Embry-Riddle | Florida Southern |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 67% | 69% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $84,131/yr — Embry-Riddle leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $55,294/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,666 — Embry-Riddle leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 28% — Embry-Riddle leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 45% |
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 | Embry-Riddle | Florida Southern |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 58% | 64% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 11,070 | 3,194 |
| Where it is | Daytona Beach, FL | Lakeland, FL |
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 | Embry-Riddle | Florida Southern |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kelsi Dunne Diaz | Brittany Johnson |
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 | Embry-Riddle | Florida Southern |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 3 listed (3 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
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.
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.
Embry-Riddle
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.
Florida Southern
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Team Camp11/01/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $0 - $1,200
- Fall Prospect Camp12/06/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $175
- Winter Prospect Camp01/16/2027 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $175
Embry-Riddle vs Florida Southern: common questions
- Is Embry-Riddle or Florida Southern cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $55,974 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, Embry-Riddle or Florida Southern?
- Florida Southern, at 69% against 67% at Embry-Riddle (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Embry-Riddle and Florida Southern 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 Embry-Riddle and Florida Southern run softball camps?
- We track 3 camps at Florida Southern and none currently listed at Embry-Riddle. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Embry-Riddle and Florida Southern?
- 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, 2023-2024). 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 Embry-Riddle and Florida Southern accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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