Aquinas vs Carroll: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Aquinas runs $2,462 less per year; Carroll 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 Aquinas if…
- The number on the bill matters: Aquinas lists $2,462 less per year in tuition and housing than Carroll, and neither charges by residency.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Aquinas is $2,757 lower than at Carroll.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Aquinas against none listed at Carroll.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Aquinas admits 90% of applicants.
Lean Carroll if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Carroll graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Aquinas.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Carroll graduates earn about $12,188 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Your transcript is a strength: Carroll admits 71% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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 | Aquinas | Carroll |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $38,520 — Aquinas leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $40,352 |
| Room & board | $10,994 — Aquinas leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,624 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $49,514 — Aquinas leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $51,976 |
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 | Aquinas | Carroll |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 63% | 66% — Carroll leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $49,584/yr | $61,772/yr — Carroll leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 — Aquinas leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,757 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 46% | 42% — Carroll 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 | Aquinas | Carroll |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 90% | 71% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,295 | 1,103 |
| Where it is | Grand Rapids, MI | Helena, MT |
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 | Aquinas | Carroll |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | WHAC | FRON |
| Head coach | Patty Jansen | Aspen Herndon |
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 | Aquinas | Carroll |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NAIA, so the scholarship rules are identical: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
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.
Carroll
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.
Aquinas vs Carroll: common questions
- Is Aquinas or Carroll cheaper?
- On published price, Aquinas is cheaper — about $49,514 a year in tuition and housing, against $51,976 at Carroll. 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, Aquinas or Carroll?
- Carroll, at 66% against 63% at Aquinas (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Aquinas and Carroll offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NAIA: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
- Do Aquinas and Carroll run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Aquinas and none currently listed at Carroll. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Aquinas and Carroll?
- Aquinas runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Carroll, 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 Aquinas and Carroll accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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