Briar Cliff vs Bushnell: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Bushnell graduates 13 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 Briar Cliff if…
- On the figures we hold, Briar Cliff does not lead Bushnell 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 Bushnell if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Bushnell graduates 13 percentage points more of its students than Briar Cliff.
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 | Briar Cliff | Bushnell |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $35,534 | $34,740 |
| Room & board | $10,208 — Briar Cliff leads on this measure: lower room & board | $10,980 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $45,742 | $45,720 |
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 | Briar Cliff | Bushnell |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 49% | 62% — Bushnell leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $54,475/yr | $53,623/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 | $23,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 43% | 44% |
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 | Briar Cliff | Bushnell |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 67% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 940 | 758 |
| Where it is | Sioux City, IA | Eugene, OR |
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 | Briar Cliff | Bushnell |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GPAC | CCC |
| Head coach | TJ Eadus | Jim Patrick |
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 | Briar Cliff | Bushnell |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Briar Cliff
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.
Bushnell
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.
Briar Cliff vs Bushnell: common questions
- Is Briar Cliff or Bushnell cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $45,742 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Briar Cliff or Bushnell?
- Bushnell, at 62% against 49% at Briar Cliff (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Briar Cliff and Bushnell 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Briar Cliff and Bushnell?
- 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 Briar Cliff and Bushnell 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