Babson vs Skidmore: Softball Program Comparison

Two D3 programs. Babson runs $5,552 less per year; Babson graduates 10 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 Babson if…

  • The number on the bill matters: Babson lists $5,552 less per year in tuition and housing than Skidmore, and neither charges by residency.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Babson graduates 10 percentage points more of its students than Skidmore.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Babson graduates earn about $54,575 more per year a decade after enrolling.

Lean Skidmore if…

  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Skidmore against none listed at Babson.

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.

What it costs to go there: Babson compared with Skidmore
MeasureBabsonSkidmore
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$56,032 Babson leads on this measure: lower published tuition$65,030
Room & board$20,786$17,340 Skidmore leads on this measure: lower room & board
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$76,818 Babson leads on this measure: lower total cost per year$82,370

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.

What you leave with: Babson compared with Skidmore
MeasureBabsonSkidmore
Graduation rate92% Babson leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree82%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$123,938/yr Babson leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$69,363/yr
Median debt at graduation$20,000$19,500
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.16% Babson leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn28%

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Babson compared with Skidmore
MeasureBabsonSkidmore
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.17%21%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.3,9432,776
Where it isWellesley, MASaratoga Springs, NY

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.

The softball program itself: Babson compared with Skidmore
MeasureBabsonSkidmore
ConferenceNEWMACLiberty League
Head coachTori RocheLiz Neubinski

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.

How you actually get in front of them: Babson compared with Skidmore
MeasureBabsonSkidmore
Camps we track2 listed (1 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

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.

How D3 softball scholarships actually work →

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.

Babson

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Skidmore

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Babson vs Skidmore: common questions

Is Babson or Skidmore cheaper?
On published price, Babson is cheaper — about $76,818 a year in tuition and housing, against $82,370 at Skidmore. 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, Babson or Skidmore?
Babson, at 92% against 82% at Skidmore (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Babson and Skidmore 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.
Do Babson and Skidmore run softball camps?
We track 2 camps at Skidmore and none currently listed at Babson. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Babson and Skidmore?
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 Babson and Skidmore accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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