Northern Illinois Softball
Northern Illinois University · Huskies
Horizon · Dekalb, IL
$13K
In-state tuition
Up to 25
Scholarships
allowed under 2025 roster-limit rules (funding varies by program)
50%
Graduation rate
Room & board: $13K
2023-2024 data via IPEDS
Northern Illinois softball at a glance
Where the program sits and what a year here costs. How athletic aid works in D1.
- Conference level
- Mid-Major
- Est. year, all in
- $25,500Tuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.
- Debt as a share of year-10 pay
- 38%Median debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.
- Total enrollment
- 15,504
Cost, debt and enrollment: IPEDS 2023-2024 and College Scorecard. Conference level: CommitBound.
Program Info
- Division
- D1
- Conference
- Horizon
- Location
- Dekalb, IL
- Scholarships
- Up to 25 (2025 roster rules)
What Northern Illinois Coaches Look For
Recruiting benchmarks for Mid-Major programs. Min = on the radar, Competitive = solidly in the pool, Elite = stands out.
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Quick Fit Check
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Recruiting Timeline
D1 contact rules for Northern Illinois. 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 accountCoaching Staff
Kathryn Gleason
Head Coach
k•••@niu.eduJordan Taylor
Assistant Coach
Brie Pasquale
Assistant Coach
b•••@niu.eduSomething wrong? Report a coaching change
Tournament Attendance
ExclusiveListed by the organizer
Upcoming events whose organizer currently lists Northern Illinois on their attending-college list. Attendance is set by organizers and can change.
Attended in past seasons
Events already played where the organizer listed Northern Illinois as attending. A guide to where this program tends to recruit — not a commitment to this year's schedule.
Seen Northern Illinois at a tournament? You do not need the coach's name. Report a coach sighting
Northern Illinois softball roster outlook
Northern Illinois carries 23 players on its 2026-2027 roster. 4 seniors and graduate students leave after this season, the most at infielders (2).
| Position | Leaving | Returning |
|---|---|---|
| Pitchers | 1 | 5 |
| Catchers | 0 | 1 |
| Infielders | 2 | 8 |
| Outfielders | 1 | 5 |
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.
Camps & Clinics
Camp dates not yet available for Northern Illinois.
Search for "Northern Illinois softball camp" for the latest information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get recruited by Northern Illinois University softball?
Start by filling out the Northern Illinois University recruiting questionnaire, then email the coaching staff directly. Attend camps and showcases where Northern Illinois University coaches are present. CommitBound can help you track your outreach and build recruiting habits.
Does Northern Illinois University offer softball scholarships?
Northern Illinois University is a D1 program. Up to 25 scholarships are allowed under the 2025 roster-limit rules, though funding varies by program.
Who is the head coach at Northern Illinois University?
The current head coach is Kathryn Gleason. Verified coach email access is available with a free CommitBound account.
Follow Northern Illinois Softball
Location
Recruiting Difficulty
This is a competitive D1 program. Strong travel ball and academic credentials are expected. Start reaching out to coaches early.
Graduate Outcomes
- Median earnings (10yr)
- $57,808/yr
- Median earnings (6yr)
- $46,113/yr
- Median student debt
- $22,162
- Admission rate
- 70%
Good 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
- $13,391/yr
- Students on Pell Grant
- 47%
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
- Horizon
- State
- IL
- Camps Listed
- Coming soon
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Northern Illinois Recruiting Questionnaire
Direct link to the official questionnaire and what to have ready
All Recruiting Guides
Step-by-step guides for every stage of recruiting
We work hard to keep all data for Northern Illinois accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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