Bethany Lutheran vs Principia: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Bethany Lutheran runs $8,370 less per year; Principia graduates 16 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 Bethany Lutheran if…
- The number on the bill matters: Bethany Lutheran lists $8,370 less per year in tuition and housing than Principia, and neither charges by residency.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Bethany Lutheran against none listed at Principia.
Lean Principia if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Principia graduates 16 percentage points more of its students than Bethany Lutheran.
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 | Bethany Lutheran | Principia |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $30,010 — Bethany Lutheran leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $33,280 |
| Room & board | $8,270 — Bethany Lutheran leads on this measure: lower room & board | $13,370 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $38,280 — Bethany Lutheran leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $46,650 |
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 | Bethany Lutheran | Principia |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% | 76% — Principia leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $46,110/yr | — |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 | — |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 50% | — |
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 | Bethany Lutheran | Principia |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 39% | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 902 | 338 |
| Where it is | Mankato, MN | Elsah, IL |
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 | Bethany Lutheran | Principia |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | UMAC | SLIAC |
| Head coach | Angela Dabu | Grace Burrows |
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 | Bethany Lutheran | Principia |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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. 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.
Bethany Lutheran
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Catching Camp08/17/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $125
Principia
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.
Bethany Lutheran vs Principia: common questions
- Is Bethany Lutheran or Principia cheaper?
- On published price, Bethany Lutheran is cheaper — about $38,280 a year in tuition and housing, against $46,650 at Principia. 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, Bethany Lutheran or Principia?
- Principia, at 76% against 60% at Bethany Lutheran (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Bethany Lutheran and Principia 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 Bethany Lutheran and Principia run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Bethany Lutheran and none currently listed at Principia. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Bethany Lutheran and Principia?
- 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 Bethany Lutheran and Principia accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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