Bethel vs Cumberland: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs in the MSC. Bethel runs $9,495 less per year; Cumberland graduates 12 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…
- The number on the bill matters: Bethel lists $9,495 less per year in tuition and housing than Cumberland, and neither charges by residency.
Lean Cumberland if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Cumberland graduates 12 percentage points more of its students than Bethel.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Cumberland graduates earn about $10,205 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Cumberland is $9,297 lower than at Bethel.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Cumberland 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 | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $18,168 — Bethel leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $27,840 |
| Room & board | $10,537 | $10,360 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $28,705 — Bethel leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $38,200 |
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 | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 35% | 47% — Cumberland leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $47,482/yr | $57,687/yr — Cumberland leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,249 | $17,952 — Cumberland leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 57% | 31% — Cumberland leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
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 | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 60% | 67% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,974 | 3,072 |
| Where it is | McKenzie, TN | Lebanon, TN |
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 | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Craig Massey | Stephanie Theall |
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 | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | 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.
Cumberland
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Prospect Camp08/30/2026 · 9th Grade - College Senior · $100
Bethel vs Cumberland: common questions
- Is Bethel or Cumberland cheaper?
- On published price, Bethel is cheaper — about $28,705 a year in tuition and housing, against $38,200 at Cumberland. 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 Cumberland?
- Cumberland, at 47% against 35% at Bethel (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Bethel and Cumberland 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 Cumberland run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Cumberland 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 Cumberland?
- 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 Cumberland 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.
Start free