Albion vs Saint Mary's: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the MIAA-D3. Saint Mary's runs $3,036 less per year; Saint Mary's graduates 20 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 Albion if…
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 16 camps at Albion against none listed at Saint Mary's.
Lean Saint Mary's if…
- The number on the bill matters: Saint Mary's lists $3,036 less per year in tuition and housing than Albion, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Saint Mary's graduates 20 percentage points more of its students than Albion.
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.
| Measure | Albion | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $55,746 | $51,430 — Saint Mary's leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $12,570 — Albion leads on this measure: lower room & board | $13,850 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $68,316 | $65,280 — Saint Mary's 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.
| Measure | Albion | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 57% | 77% — Saint Mary's leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $58,799/yr | $59,354/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 46% | 45% |
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.
| Measure | Albion | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 81% | 76% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,354 | 1,518 |
| Where it is | Albion, MI | Notre Dame, IN |
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.
| Measure | Albion | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Leigh Ann LaFave | Jordyn Walter |
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.
| Measure | Albion | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 16 listed (16 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
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.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
Albion
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Summer Prospect Camp06/15/2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · See Prices
- Kids Summer Skills Camp06/16/2026 · 3rd - 7th Grade as of Fall 2026 · $49.00
- Kids Summer Pitching Camp06/16/2026 · 3rd - 7th Grade as of Fall 2026 · $49.00
- Fall Prospect Camp09/13/2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · See Prices
Saint Mary's
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Albion vs Saint Mary's: common questions
- Is Albion or Saint Mary's cheaper?
- On published price, Saint Mary's is cheaper — about $65,280 a year in tuition and housing, against $68,316 at Albion. 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, Albion or Saint Mary's?
- Saint Mary's, at 77% against 57% at Albion (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Albion and Saint Mary's 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.
- Do Albion and Saint Mary's run softball camps?
- We track 16 camps at Albion and none currently listed at Saint Mary's. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Albion and Saint Mary's?
- Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.
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 Albion and Saint Mary's accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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