Anna Maria vs Rivier: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the GNAC. Rivier runs $7,640 less per year; Rivier graduates 19 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 Anna Maria if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Anna Maria is $1,956 lower than at Rivier.
- Your transcript is a strength: Anna Maria admits 50% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Rivier if…
- The number on the bill matters: Rivier lists $7,640 less per year in tuition and housing than Anna Maria, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Rivier graduates 19 percentage points more of its students than Anna Maria.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Rivier graduates earn about $5,597 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- 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.
| Measure | Anna Maria | Rivier |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $43,064 | $37,791 — Rivier leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $17,310 | $14,943 — Rivier leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $60,374 | $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.
| Measure | Anna Maria | Rivier |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 40% | 59% — Rivier leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $46,651/yr | $52,248/yr — Rivier leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 — Anna Maria leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $26,956 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 54% | 52% — Rivier 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 | Anna Maria | Rivier |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 50% | 83% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,332 | 2,879 |
| Where it is | Paxton, MA | Nashua, 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.
| Measure | Anna Maria | Rivier |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Brian Claypool | Noelle 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.
| Measure | Anna Maria | Rivier |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Anna Maria
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.
Rivier
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe 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.
Anna Maria vs Rivier: common questions
- Is Anna Maria or Rivier cheaper?
- On published price, Rivier is cheaper — about $52,734 a year in tuition and housing, against $60,374 at Anna Maria. 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, Anna Maria or Rivier?
- Rivier, at 59% against 40% at Anna Maria (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Anna Maria 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 Anna Maria and Rivier?
- Anna Maria 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 Anna Maria and Rivier accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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