Berea vs Transylvania: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the HCAC. Berea runs $1,957 less per year; Transylvania graduates 8 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 Berea if…
- The number on the bill matters: Berea lists $1,957 less per year in tuition and housing than Transylvania, and neither charges by residency.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Berea is $23,409 lower than at Transylvania.
- Your transcript is a strength: Berea admits 19% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Transylvania if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Transylvania graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than Berea.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Transylvania graduates earn about $11,555 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Transylvania admits 87% 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 | Berea | Transylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $49,326 | $44,980 — Transylvania leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $7,892 — Berea leads on this measure: lower room & board | $14,195 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $57,218 — Berea leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $59,175 |
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 | Berea | Transylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 62% | 70% — Transylvania leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $43,150/yr | $54,705/yr — Transylvania leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $3,591 — Berea leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $27,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 8% — Berea 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 | Berea | Transylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 19% | 87% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,487 | 1,022 |
| Where it is | Berea, KY | Lexington, KY |
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 | Berea | Transylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Angela Dean | Shawn Hendrickson |
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 | Berea | Transylvania |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Berea
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.
Transylvania
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.
Berea vs Transylvania: common questions
- Is Berea or Transylvania cheaper?
- On published price, Berea is cheaper — about $57,218 a year in tuition and housing, against $59,175 at Transylvania. 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, Berea or Transylvania?
- Transylvania, at 70% against 62% at Berea (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Berea and Transylvania 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 Berea and Transylvania?
- Berea runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Transylvania, 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 Berea and Transylvania accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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