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Best Softball colleges in Illinois

Explore colleges in Illinois recruiting Softball athletes, most popular programs first. Open any school to see its division, costs and coaches, or let our softball recruiting platform email every coach for you.

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246 coaches recruiting Softball in Illinois
Overview

Softball colleges in Illinois

How the programs break down by division, conference, cost and size. Updated October 2026.

Programs
78
Coaches recruiting
246
  • 11Division I
  • 5Division II
  • 21Division III
  • 7NAIA
  • 33Junior college

Illinois has 78 colleges with Softball programs. Of those, 11 compete in NCAA Division I, 5 in NCAA Division II, 21 in NCAA Division III, 7 in the NAIA and 33 at the junior college level. The most popular programs are Northwestern University, DePaul University and Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Their head coaches are Kate Drohan at Northwestern University, Liz Bouck-Jagielski at DePaul University and Ben Sorden at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. 21 schools compete in the Region 4, the most common conference.

Lowest net priceLewis and Clark Community College · $2,781Average yearly cost after aidMost selectiveUniversity of Chicago · 4%Acceptance rateLargest campusUniversity of Illinois, Chicago · 33,906Undergraduate students
All programs

Every Softball program in Illinois

Open any school to see its coaches, costs and admissions.

Division I · 11

Northwestern University logoNorthwestern UniversityEvanston · Big Ten · Coach Kate DrohanDePaul University logoDePaul UniversityChicago · Big East · Coach Liz Bouck-JagielskiSouthern Illinois University, Carbondale logoSouthern Illinois University, CarbondaleCarbondale · Missouri Valley · Coach Ben SordenIllinois State University logoIllinois State UniversityNormal · Missouri Valley · Coach Tina Kramos

Division II · 5

McKendree University logoMcKendree UniversityLebanon · Great Lakes Valley · Coach Heather TarterUniversity of Illinois Springfield logoUniversity of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield · Great Lakes Valley · Coach Shannon GuthrieLewis University logoLewis UniversityRomeoville · Great Lakes Valley · Coach Becky PearlQuincy University logoQuincy UniversityQuincy · Great Lakes Valley

Division III · 21

University of Chicago logoUniversity of ChicagoChicago · Midwest · Coach Ruth KmakNorth Central College logoNorth Central CollegeNaperville · College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin · Coach Venus TaylorAugustana College logoAugustana CollegeRock Island · College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin · Coach John NelsonWheaton College logoWheaton CollegeWheaton · College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin · Coach Amanda Fazzari

NAIA · 7

Olivet Nazarene University logoOlivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais · Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic · Coach Travis HillGovernors State University logoGovernors State UniversityUniversity Park · Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic · Coach Tori KeilmanUniversity of Saint Francis logoUniversity of Saint FrancisJoliet · Coach Mike KaddatzUniversity of St Francis logoUniversity of St FrancisJoliet · Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic · Coach Alyssa Moreno

Junior college · 33

Lake Land College logoLake Land CollegeMattoon · Region 24 · Coach John HendrixHighland Community College logoHighland Community CollegeFreeport · Region 24 · Coach Maddi JonesLewis and Clark Community College logoLewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfrey · Region 24 · Coach Shawna CyrusIllinois Central College logoIllinois Central CollegeEast Peoria · Region 24 · Coach Heather Doty

Other associations · 1

Southeastern Illinois College logoSoutheastern Illinois CollegeHarrisburg · Region 24
Questions

Questions about Softball colleges in Illinois

Quick answers about the programs and how to reach their coaches.

How many colleges in Illinois have Softball?

78 colleges in Illinois have Softball programs: 11 Division I, 5 Division II, 21 Division III, 7 NAIA and 33 Junior college.

Which colleges in Illinois have D1 Softball?

11 colleges in Illinois compete in NCAA Division I Softball: Bradley University, DePaul University, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Loyola University Chicago, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and 3 more.

Which colleges in Illinois have D2 Softball?

5 colleges in Illinois compete in NCAA Division II Softball: Lewis University, McKendree University, Quincy University, University of Illinois Springfield and University of Illinois, Springfield.

Which colleges in Illinois have D3 Softball?

21 colleges in Illinois compete in NCAA Division III Softball: Augustana College, Aurora University, Benedictine University, Blackburn College, Concordia University, Chicago, Dominican University, Elmhurst University, Eureka College and 13 more.

Which colleges in Illinois have NAIA Softball?

7 colleges in Illinois compete in NAIA Softball: Governors State University, Judson University, Olivet Nazarene University, Trinity Christian College, University of Saint Francis, University of St Francis and Xavier University.

Which colleges in Illinois have JUCO Softball?

33 colleges in Illinois compete in NJCAA junior college Softball: Carl Sandburg College, College of DuPage, College of Lake County, Danville Area Community College, Elgin Community College, Frontier Community College, Heartland Community College, Highland Community College and 25 more.

What is the most affordable college in Illinois with Softball?

Lewis and Clark Community College has the lowest average net price at $2,781 a year after grants and scholarships.

What conference do most Softball programs in Illinois compete in?

The Region 4 has the most Softball programs in Illinois.

Who are the Softball head coaches in Illinois?

Kate Drohan (Northwestern University), Liz Bouck-Jagielski (DePaul University), Ben Sorden (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale), Tina Kramos (Illinois State University), Kathryn Gleason (Northern Illinois University), Alicia Abbott (Loyola University Chicago), Dan Paulson (Eastern Illinois University) and Ben Sorden (Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville).

How do I contact Softball coaches in Illinois?

There are 246 coaches recruiting Softball in Illinois. Start a free 7-day AthleticScholar trial to see who recruits your position and send personal messages from your own Gmail, with follow-ups until they reply.

By division

Softball colleges by division in Illinois

The most popular programs at each level, with links to the full lists.

D1 Softball colleges in Illinois

11 schools in Illinois compete in NCAA Division I.

D2 Softball colleges in Illinois

5 schools in Illinois compete in NCAA Division II.

D3 Softball colleges in Illinois

21 schools in Illinois compete in NCAA Division III. The 12 most popular are listed below.

See all 21 D3 Softball colleges in Illinois

NAIA Softball colleges in Illinois

7 schools in Illinois compete in NAIA.

JUCO Softball colleges in Illinois

33 schools in Illinois compete in NJCAA junior college. The 12 most popular are listed below.

See all 33 JUCO Softball colleges in Illinois