Ave Maria vs Lyon: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Ave Maria lists $2,778 less in tuition; Ave Maria graduates earn $5,288 more a decade out.
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 Ave Maria if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Ave Maria graduates earn about $5,288 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Ave Maria is $724 lower than at Lyon.
- Your transcript is a strength: Ave Maria admits 41% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Lyon if…
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Lyon against none listed at Ave Maria.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Lyon admits 63% 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 | Ave Maria | Lyon |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $28,222 — Ave Maria leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $31,000 |
| Room & board | $14,125 | $10,750 — Lyon leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $42,347 | $41,750 |
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 | Ave Maria | Lyon |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 55% | 56% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $49,520/yr — Ave Maria leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $44,232/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,776 — Ave Maria leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $21,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 42% — Ave Maria leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 49% |
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 | Ave Maria | Lyon |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 41% | 63% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,335 | 584 |
| Where it is | Ave Maria, FL | Batesville, AR |
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 | Ave Maria | Lyon |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SUN | AMC |
| Head coach | Trinity Medina | Taylor Kuhn |
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 | Ave Maria | Lyon |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | 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.
Ave 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.
Lyon
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Prospect Camp07/27/2026 · 7th - College Sophomore Grade as of Fall · $125.00
Ave Maria vs Lyon: common questions
- Is Ave Maria or Lyon cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $42,347 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, Ave Maria or Lyon?
- Lyon, at 56% against 55% at Ave Maria (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Ave Maria and Lyon 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 Ave Maria and Lyon run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Lyon and none currently listed at Ave Maria. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Ave Maria and Lyon?
- 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 Ave Maria and Lyon accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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