Calumet St. Joseph vs Shawnee State: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Shawnee State runs $3,923 less per year out of state; Shawnee State 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 Calumet St. Joseph if…
- On the figures we hold, Calumet St. Joseph does not lead Shawnee State 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 Shawnee State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Shawnee State lists $3,923 less per year in tuition and housing than Calumet St. Joseph.
- You would be in-state: Shawnee State is $13,028 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Calumet St. Joseph.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Shawnee State graduates 13 percentage points more of its students than Calumet St. Joseph.
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 | Calumet St. Joseph | Shawnee State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $22,650 | $9,622 — Shawnee State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $22,650 | $16,157 — Shawnee State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $10,000 — Calumet St. Joseph leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,570 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $32,650 | $22,192 — Shawnee State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $32,650 | $28,727 — Shawnee State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
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 | Calumet St. Joseph | Shawnee State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 30% | 43% — Shawnee State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | — | $39,596/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | — | $23,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | — | 58% |
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 | Calumet St. Joseph | Shawnee State |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 674 | 3,206 |
| Where it is | Whiting, IN | Portsmouth, OH |
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 | Calumet St. Joseph | Shawnee State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CCAC | RSC |
| Head coach | Dave Lopez | Kristen Bradshaw |
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 | Calumet St. Joseph | Shawnee State |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Calumet St. Joseph
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.
Shawnee State
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.
Calumet St. Joseph vs Shawnee State: common questions
- Is Calumet St. Joseph or Shawnee State cheaper?
- On published price, Shawnee State is cheaper — about $28,727 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $32,650 at Calumet St. Joseph. 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, Calumet St. Joseph or Shawnee State?
- Shawnee State, at 43% against 30% at Calumet St. Joseph (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Calumet St. Joseph and Shawnee State 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 Calumet St. Joseph and Shawnee State?
- 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 Calumet St. Joseph and Shawnee State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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