Ave Maria vs Tennessee Wesleyan: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Tennessee Wesleyan runs $4,093 less per year; Ave Maria graduates 6 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 Ave Maria if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Ave Maria graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Tennessee Wesleyan.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Ave Maria graduates earn about $3,531 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Your transcript is a strength: Ave Maria admits 41% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Tennessee Wesleyan if…
- The number on the bill matters: Tennessee Wesleyan lists $4,093 less per year in tuition and housing than Ave Maria, and neither charges by residency.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Tennessee Wesleyan is $776 lower than at Ave Maria.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Tennessee Wesleyan admits 69% of applicants.
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 | Ave Maria | Tennessee Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $30,198 | $30,814 |
| Room & board | $14,125 | $9,416 — Tennessee Wesleyan leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $44,323 | $40,230 — Tennessee Wesleyan 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 | Ave Maria | Tennessee Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 54% — Ave Maria leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 48% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $49,520/yr — Ave Maria leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $45,989/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,776 | $20,000 — Tennessee Wesleyan 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. | 42% — Ave Maria leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 43% |
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 | Tennessee Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 41% | 69% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,335 | 1,074 |
| Where it is | Ave Maria, FL | Athens, TN |
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 | Tennessee Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SUN | AAC |
| Head coach | Trinity Medina | — |
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 | Tennessee Wesleyan |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
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.
Tennessee Wesleyan
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.
Ave Maria vs Tennessee Wesleyan: common questions
- Is Ave Maria or Tennessee Wesleyan cheaper?
- On published price, Tennessee Wesleyan is cheaper — about $40,230 a year in tuition and housing, against $44,323 at Ave 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, Ave Maria or Tennessee Wesleyan?
- Ave Maria, at 54% against 48% at Tennessee Wesleyan (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Ave Maria and Tennessee Wesleyan 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Ave Maria and Tennessee Wesleyan?
- Ave Maria runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Tennessee Wesleyan, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 Ave Maria and Tennessee Wesleyan accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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