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Division I · Mid-American Conference

University of Akron Softball

Akron, OH · the Zips · University of Akron overview
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25
Roster
at the D-I cap of 25
$790k
Team budget
26th percentile in Division I
$31,603
Per roster spot
median $46,727
3
Coaches
1 head · 2 assistant
963
APR
95% of players retained
71%
Admitted
upper half for selectivity

University of Akron fields a softball team in the Mid-American Conference (NCAA Division I). In 2024–25 the roster carried 25 players, about the median of 23, with 1 head coach and 2 assistants. Team expenses were $790,095, below the median of $1.1M — $31,603 per roster spot, bottom quarter of Division I softball programs. That is exactly the Division I roster cap of 25 in force from 2025-26. The team's multi-year Academic Progress Rate is 963, about the median of 989, with 95% of players retained year to year. The school gave $2,569,646 in athletic aid across its women's teams, about $9,517 per roster spot.

Among Division I softball programs

Where this program sits against its 305 peers (percentile; the tick is the median).

#225Team budgetof 305 · Division I#237Spend per playerof 305 · Division I#66Roster sizeof 305 · Division I#270APRof 305 · Division I
Team budget$790k
Spend per player$31,603
Roster size25
Coaching staff3
APR963

Team budgets across the division

$234k$8.2M
this programevery Division I softball program

Roster sizes (cap 25)

1435
this programevery Division I roster

The program

  • Roster25 2024–25 season
  • Division I roster cap25 at the cap
  • Coaching staff1 head, 2 assistant
  • Team expenses$790,095 for the year
  • Operating expenses$177,631 game-day and travel
  • Spend per roster spot$31,603 division median $46,727
  • Academic Progress Rate963 multi-year; 947 latest
  • Players retained95% year to year
  • Eligible97% of player-terms
  • Athletic aid, women's teams$2,569,646 school-wide
  • Aid per roster spot$9,517 across women's teams
  • Recruiting spend, women's$126,885 school-wide

Coaching staff

NameTitleEmail
Craig Nicholson head coachHead CoachOn file · sign in
Sara ZillesAssistant CoachOn file · sign in
Cailey JoyceAssistant CoachOn file · sign in
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Recruiting timing

  • Coaches may first contact youSeptember 1 of junior year
  • Your own emailsAny time the rule limits what coaches send back
  • High-school softball players338,315 2024-25
  • Division I roster spots7,038 305 programs
  • Odds of a spot1 in 48 2.1% of high-school players hold a Division I roster spot

General NCAA rule for Division I; the softball recruiting guide has the date for each grad year, the eligibility checklist and what to put in a first email.

About the school

What an athlete asks first — each panel opens the full picture.

Campus

Full picture →
11,452undergraduates · 13,518 students in all
Women 50% Men 50%
Setting
City
Type
Public · Research university
Affiliation
None

Getting in

Full picture →
71%admitted · of 14,982 applicants
SAT middle 50%950 – 1190
ACT middle 50%18 – 25
Test scores
Test-optional
Graduate in 6 yrs
53%

Softball

Full picture →
25on the roster · 2024–25 season
Roster vs the D-I cap of 2525
exactly at the cap
Academic Progress Rate963
95% of players kept year to year
Team expenses
$790,095 $31,604 per roster spot · lower half of Division I
Coaches
1 head · 2 assistant
Athletic aid, women's teams
$2,569,646
Recruiting spend, women's
$126,885

Cost

Full picture →
$15,292net price · after grants, aided first-years
Sticker, in-state$28,665
Sticker, out-of-state$33,105
Average net price$15,292
Net price by family income
$0–30k$12,469
$30–48k$12,319
$48–75k$14,771
$75–110k$17,982
$110k and up$19,698
Tuition & fees
$12,799 in-state · $17,239 out

Campus safety

Full picture →
1violent offences per 1,000 · students a year, 2022–2024
Violent1.00
Property0.48
In residence halls
1 burglaries · 26 sex offences over 2022–2024
Residence-hall fires
0 over 2022–2024

Majors

Full picture →
17%of bachelor's degrees in engineering · 23 fields · Associate's, Bachelor's, Doctorate, Master's
Engineering345 · 17%
Business328 · 17%
Health professions & nursing281 · 14%
Education144 · 7%
Computer & information sciences122 · 6%

Research University of Akron

School pages built around what an athlete needs to know — the program's money and roster room, admissions fit, what a family really pays, majors, campus life and safety.

Softball program25 on the rosterPeers, percentiles, nearby programs, comparisonsRankingsWhere it standsEvery list this school is on, nationally and in its divisionAdmissions71% admittedSAT/ACT ladders, test policy, graduationCost & aid$15,292 net priceSticker vs net price by family income, athletic aidMajorsEngineering · 17%Every field and program with degrees awardedCampusCity · 11,452Setting, who is on campus, housing costs, servicesCampus safety1 violent / 1,000Three years of reported offences against the divisionAthleticsEvery teamThe whole department: every team, staff and aid

Softball programs within 150 miles

University of AkronWalsh University · 16 miMalone University · 19 miUniversity of Mount Union · 24 miHiram College · 25 miBaldwin Wallace University · 27 miJohn Carroll University · 29 miThe College of Wooster · 29 miUrsuline College · 29 miCase Western Reserve University · 30 miOberlin College · 40 miAshland University · 45 miYoungstown State University · 45 mi
SchoolMilesRosterBudgetAPRAdmitted
Walsh University Division II · Great Midwest Athletic Conference1637$361k—78%
Malone University Division II · Great Midwest Athletic Conference1926$393k—76%
University of Mount Union Division III · Ohio Athletic Conference2429$200k—80%
Hiram College Division III · Presidents' Athletic Conference2516$84k—93%
Baldwin Wallace University Division III · Ohio Athletic Conference2721$147k—77%
John Carroll University Division III · North Coast Athletic Conference2922$160k—81%
The College of Wooster Division III · North Coast Athletic Conference2919$221k—54%
Ursuline College Division II · Great Midwest Athletic Conference2922$297k—84%
Case Western Reserve University Division III · University Athletic Association3019$316k—29%
Oberlin College Division III · North Coast Athletic Conference4015$188k—33%
Ashland University Division II · Great Midwest Athletic Conference4530$370k—81%
Youngstown State University Division I · Horizon League4521$597k99380%

Other softball programs in the Mid-American Conference

SchoolRosterBudgetPer playerAPRCompare
University of Massachusetts, Amherst room for 718$1.2M$67,765984vs
Ball State University at cap25$1.1M$44,023994vs
University of Toledo room for 124$1.1M$45,426976vs
University at Buffalo, the State University of New York room for 223$1.1M$47,371986vs
Western Michigan University room for 124$999k$41,606986vs
Central Michigan University room for 124$943k$39,297997vs
University of Akron at cap25$790k$31,603963vs
Bowling Green State University at cap25$755k$30,203986vs
Kent State University————vs
Miami University (Ohio)————vs
Ohio University————vs

Every Mid-American Conference softball program · Softball budgets ranked