Caldwell vs Northwest Nazarene: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Northwest Nazarene runs $2,304 less per year; Caldwell graduates earn $2,124 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 Caldwell if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Caldwell graduates earn about $2,124 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Northwest Nazarene if…
- The number on the bill matters: Northwest Nazarene lists $2,304 less per year in tuition and housing than Caldwell, and neither charges by residency.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Northwest Nazarene is $1,250 lower than at Caldwell.
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 | Caldwell | Northwest Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $39,450 | $39,370 |
| Room & board | $13,774 | $11,550 — Northwest Nazarene leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $53,224 | $50,920 — Northwest Nazarene 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 | Caldwell | Northwest Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 59% | 60% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $53,843/yr — Caldwell leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $51,719/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 | $23,750 — Northwest Nazarene 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. | 46% | 46% |
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 | Caldwell | Northwest Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 71% | 65% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,864 | 1,774 |
| Where it is | Caldwell, NJ | Nampa, ID |
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 | Caldwell | Northwest Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CACC | GNAC |
| Head coach | Lindsay Mayer | Rich Wagner |
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 | Caldwell | Northwest Nazarene |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based 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.
Caldwell
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.
Northwest Nazarene
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Caldwell vs Northwest Nazarene: common questions
- Is Caldwell or Northwest Nazarene cheaper?
- On published price, Northwest Nazarene is cheaper — about $50,920 a year in tuition and housing, against $53,224 at Caldwell. 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, Caldwell or Northwest Nazarene?
- Northwest Nazarene, at 60% against 59% at Caldwell (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Caldwell and Northwest Nazarene offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Caldwell and Northwest Nazarene?
- Caldwell runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Northwest Nazarene, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 Caldwell and Northwest Nazarene accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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