Buena Vista vs Dubuque: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the ARC. Buena Vista graduates 22 points more of its students; Dubuque graduates earn $2,034 more a decade out.
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 Buena Vista if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Buena Vista graduates 22 percentage points more of its students than Dubuque.
- Your transcript is a strength: Buena Vista admits 78% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Dubuque if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Dubuque graduates earn about $2,034 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Dubuque against 1 at Buena Vista.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Dubuque admits 89% of applicants.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board 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 | Buena Vista | Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $41,798 | $42,095 |
| Room & board | $10,896 — Buena Vista leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,470 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $52,694 | $53,565 |
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 | Buena Vista | Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 62% — Buena Vista leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 40% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $49,156/yr | $51,190/yr — Dubuque leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 | $25,750 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 51% | 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 | Buena Vista | Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 78% | 89% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,951 | 1,795 |
| Where it is | Storm Lake, IA | Dubuque, IA |
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 | Buena Vista | Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Tammy Utley | Kristen Duross |
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 | Buena Vista | Dubuque |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | 2 listed (2 with dates) |
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.
Buena Vista
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Prospect Camp01/31/2027 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $70
Dubuque
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Winter Spartan Youth Skills Camp01/16/2027 · 2nd Grade - 8th Grade · $50 - $65
- Winter Spartan Softball Prospect Camp01/23/2027 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $80 - $95
Buena Vista vs Dubuque: common questions
- Is Buena Vista or Dubuque cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $52,694 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, Buena Vista or Dubuque?
- Buena Vista, at 62% against 40% at Dubuque (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Buena Vista and Dubuque 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 Buena Vista and Dubuque run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 1 at Buena Vista and 2 at Dubuque. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). 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 Buena Vista and Dubuque 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