Baruch vs Penn State Behrend: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Baruch runs $7,344 less per year out of state; Baruch graduates 26 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 Baruch if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Baruch lists $7,344 less per year in tuition and housing than Penn State Behrend.
- You would be in-state: Baruch is $8,480 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Penn State Behrend.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Baruch graduates 26 percentage points more of its students than Penn State Behrend.
Lean Penn State Behrend if…
- On the figures we hold, Penn State Behrend does not lead Baruch on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
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 | Baruch | Penn State Behrend |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $7,464 — Baruch leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $15,944 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $15,414 — Baruch leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $26,668 |
| Room & board | $18,684 | $14,774 — Penn State Behrend leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $26,148 — Baruch leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $30,718 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $34,098 — Baruch leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $41,442 |
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 | Baruch | Penn State Behrend |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 72% — Baruch leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 46% |
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 | Baruch | Penn State Behrend |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 19,698 | 3,323 |
| Where it is | New York, NY | Erie, PA |
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 | Baruch | Penn State Behrend |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CUNYAC | AMCC |
| Head coach | Ciro Gentile | Ashley Gruber |
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 | Baruch | Penn State Behrend |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | 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.
Baruch
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.
Penn State Behrend
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.
Baruch vs Penn State Behrend: common questions
- Is Baruch or Penn State Behrend cheaper?
- On published price, Baruch is cheaper — about $34,098 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $41,442 at Penn State Behrend. 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, Baruch or Penn State Behrend?
- Baruch, at 72% against 46% at Penn State Behrend (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Baruch and Penn State Behrend 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 Baruch and Penn State Behrend?
- 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 Baruch and Penn State Behrend 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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