Augustana vs John Carroll: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Augustana 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 Augustana if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Augustana graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than John Carroll.
- Your transcript is a strength: Augustana admits 63% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean John Carroll if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at John Carroll is $1,000 lower than at Augustana.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: John Carroll admits 81% 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 | Augustana | John Carroll |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $49,834 | $49,100 |
| Room & board | $12,166 — Augustana leads on this measure: lower room & board | $14,160 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $62,000 | $63,260 |
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 | Augustana | John Carroll |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 79% — Augustana leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 76% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $62,971/yr | $62,860/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 | $26,000 — John Carroll 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. | 43% | 41% — John 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 | Augustana | John Carroll |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 63% | 81% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,484 | 2,773 |
| Where it is | Rock Island, IL | University Heights, OH |
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 | Augustana | John Carroll |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CCIW | OAC |
| Head coach | John Nelson | Tony Scibelli |
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 | Augustana | John Carroll |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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.
Augustana
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.
John 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.
Augustana vs John Carroll: common questions
- Is Augustana or John Carroll cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $62,000 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Augustana or John Carroll?
- Augustana, at 79% against 76% at John Carroll (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Augustana and John Carroll 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 Augustana and John Carroll?
- Augustana runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For John 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 Augustana and John Carroll accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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