Alma vs Coe: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Alma runs $3,322 less per year; Coe graduates 3 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 Alma if…
- The number on the bill matters: Alma lists $3,322 less per year in tuition and housing than Coe, and neither charges by residency.
Lean Coe if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Coe graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Alma.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Coe graduates earn about $2,383 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Coe against none listed at Alma.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board 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 | Alma | Coe |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $49,552 — Alma leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $54,666 |
| Room & board | $13,128 | $11,336 — Coe leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $62,680 — Alma leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $66,002 |
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 | Alma | Coe |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 63% | 66% — Coe leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $54,742/yr | $57,125/yr — Coe leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| 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. | 49% | 47% — Coe leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
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 | Alma | Coe |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 57% | 64% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,273 | 1,278 |
| Where it is | Alma, MI | Cedar Rapids, IA |
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 | Alma | Coe |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MIAA-D3 | ARC |
| Head coach | Denny Griffin | Jake Koolbeck |
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 | Alma | Coe |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 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.
Alma
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.
Coe
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Winter Combine & Camp01/10/2027 · 7th Grade - College Sophomore · $100
Alma vs Coe: common questions
- Is Alma or Coe cheaper?
- On published price, Alma is cheaper — about $62,680 a year in tuition and housing, against $66,002 at Coe. 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, Alma or Coe?
- Coe, at 66% against 63% at Alma (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Alma and Coe 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 Alma and Coe run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Coe and none currently listed at Alma. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Alma and Coe?
- 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.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). 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 Alma and Coe accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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