Albertus Magnus vs Rivier: Softball Program Comparison

Two D3 programs in the GNAC. Rivier runs $2,528 less per year; Rivier graduates 13 points more of its students.

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 Albertus Magnus if…

  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Albertus Magnus graduates earn about $7,896 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • Your transcript is a strength: Albertus Magnus admits 59% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.

Lean Rivier if…

  • The number on the bill matters: Rivier lists $2,528 less per year in tuition and housing than Albertus Magnus, and neither charges by residency.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Rivier graduates 13 percentage points more of its students than Albertus Magnus.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Rivier is $4,008 lower than at Albertus Magnus.
  • Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Rivier admits 83% of applicants.

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.

What it costs to go there: Albertus Magnus compared with Rivier
MeasureAlbertus MagnusRivier
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$39,924$37,791 Rivier leads on this measure: lower published tuition
Room & board$15,338$14,943
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$55,262$52,734 Rivier leads on this measure: lower total cost per year

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.

What you leave with: Albertus Magnus compared with Rivier
MeasureAlbertus MagnusRivier
Graduation rate46%59% Rivier leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$60,144/yr Albertus Magnus leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$52,248/yr
Median debt at graduation$30,964$26,956 Rivier leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.51%52%

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Albertus Magnus compared with Rivier
MeasureAlbertus MagnusRivier
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.59%83%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.1,1612,879
Where it isNew Haven, CTNashua, NH

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.

The softball program itself: Albertus Magnus compared with Rivier
MeasureAlbertus MagnusRivier
Head coachLou BunossoNoelle Sass

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.

How you actually get in front of them: Albertus Magnus compared with Rivier
MeasureAlbertus MagnusRivier
Recruiting questionnaireYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

Scholarship money, honestly

Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.

How D3 softball scholarships actually work →

What to do about it this week

Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.

Albertus Magnus

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Rivier

Find the recruiting questionnaire

We do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Albertus Magnus vs Rivier: common questions

Is Albertus Magnus or Rivier cheaper?
On published price, Rivier is cheaper — about $52,734 a year in tuition and housing, against $55,262 at Albertus Magnus. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
Which school graduates more of its students, Albertus Magnus or Rivier?
Rivier, at 59% against 46% at Albertus Magnus (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Albertus Magnus and Rivier offer softball scholarships?
Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
How do I contact the coaches at Albertus Magnus and Rivier?
Albertus Magnus runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Rivier, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.

Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). 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 Albertus Magnus and Rivier accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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