Minnesota Softball
University of Minnesota · Golden Gophers
Big Ten · Minneapolis, MN
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$16K
In-state tuition
Out-of-state: $36K
Up to 25
Scholarships
allowed under 2025 roster-limit rules (funding varies by program)
85%
Graduation rate
Room & board: $13K
NCAA Tournament 3 of last 5 years
2023-2024 data via IPEDS
Minnesota 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
- 2018
- Est. in-state year, all in
- $29,516
- Est. out-of-state year, all in
- $49,430Tuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.
- Debt as a share of year-10 pay
- 35%Median debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.
- Total enrollment
- 54,890
Cost, debt and enrollment: IPEDS 2023-2024 and College Scorecard. Conference level and coaching data: CommitBound.
Program Info
- Division
- D1
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Location
- Minneapolis, MN
- Scholarships
- Up to 25 (2025 roster rules)
Coaching Staff
Gretta Melsted
Head Coach
Kelsey Thompson
Associate Head Coach
t•••@umn.eduNat Wagner
Assistant Coach
w•••@umn.eduNicole Newman
Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach
n•••@umn.eduSomething wrong? Report a coaching change
Camps & Clinics
Gopher Softball Skills Academies | October
- Date
- 10/14/2026 - 10/26/2026
- Cost
- See registration
- Age Group
- 9th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026
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
- Register early — the best camps fill up months in advance.
- Budget $1,000-3,000 per year for camps and combines. Plan your calendar strategically.
- Quality over quantity — 5 well-chosen events beats 15 random ones.
What Minnesota 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 Minnesota'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 Minnesota's Power 4 standards.
Recruiting Timeline
D1 contact rules for Minnesota. 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 accountTournament Attendance
ExclusiveListed by the organizer
Upcoming events whose organizer currently lists Minnesota on their attending-college list. Attendance is set by organizers and can change.
Attended in past seasons
Events already played where the organizer listed Minnesota as attending. A guide to where this program tends to recruit — not a commitment to this year's schedule.
Seen Minnesota at a tournament? You do not need the coach's name. Report a coach sighting
Minnesota softball roster outlook
Minnesota carries 25 players on its 2026-2027 roster. 6 seniors and graduate students leave after this season.
| Position | Leaving | Returning |
|---|---|---|
| Pitchers | 2 | 5 |
| Catchers | 2 | 2 |
| Infielders | 1 | 8 |
| Outfielders | 0 | 3 |
| Utility | 1 | 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 University of Minnesota softball?
Start by filling out the University of Minnesota recruiting questionnaire, then email the coaching staff directly. Attend camps and showcases where University of Minnesota coaches are present. CommitBound can help you track your outreach and build recruiting habits.
Does University of Minnesota offer softball scholarships?
University of Minnesota is a D1 program. Up to 25 scholarships are allowed under the 2025 roster-limit rules, though funding varies by program.
When are University of Minnesota softball camps?
University of Minnesota has 1 camp listed. Check the camps section above for dates, costs, and registration links.
Who is the head coach at University of Minnesota?
The current head coach is Gretta Melsted. Verified coach email access is available with a free CommitBound account.
Follow Minnesota Softball
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)
- $62,616/yr
- Median earnings (6yr)
- $52,840/yr
- Median student debt
- $22,024
- Admission rate
- 89%
Average Value — 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
- $16,778/yr
- Students on Pell Grant
- 18%
- SAT range (EBRW + Math)
- 1300–1500
- ACT range
- 26–31
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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Quick Facts
- Division
- D1
- Conference
- Big Ten
- State
- MN
- Camps Listed
- 1
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Camps in Minnesota
Find prospect camps and clinics at Minnesota programs
Tournaments in Minnesota
Browse upcoming softball tournaments and showcases
Minnesota Recruiting Guide
How to get recruited, costs, scholarships, and what coaches look for
Minnesota Recruiting Questionnaire
Direct link to the official questionnaire and what to have ready
Minnesota 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 Minnesota accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Recruiting at Minnesota?
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