Bethel vs Grace: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Grace runs $3,586 less per year; Grace graduates 27 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 Bethel if…
- On the figures we hold, Bethel does not lead Grace 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.
Lean Grace if…
- The number on the bill matters: Grace lists $3,586 less per year in tuition and housing than Bethel, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Grace graduates 27 percentage points more of its students than Bethel.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Grace against none listed at Bethel.
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 | Bethel | Grace |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $34,002 | $30,034 — Grace leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $10,330 — Bethel leads on this measure: lower room & board | $10,712 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $44,332 | $40,746 — Grace 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 | Bethel | Grace |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 43% | 70% — Grace leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
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 | Bethel | Grace |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 502 | 2,271 |
| Where it is | North Newton, KS | Winona Lake, IN |
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 | Bethel | Grace |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | KCAC | CROSS |
| Head coach | David Middleton | Amanda Jones |
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 | Bethel | Grace |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | 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. 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.
Bethel
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.
Grace
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Prospect Camp08/22/2026 · 11th Grade - College Senior · $75
Bethel vs Grace: common questions
- Is Bethel or Grace cheaper?
- On published price, Grace is cheaper — about $40,746 a year in tuition and housing, against $44,332 at Bethel. 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, Bethel or Grace?
- Grace, at 70% against 43% at Bethel (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Bethel and Grace 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.
- Do Bethel and Grace run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Grace and none currently listed at Bethel. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Bethel and Grace?
- 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 Bethel and Grace 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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