Chicago vs Kalamazoo: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Kalamazoo runs $15,312 less per year; Chicago 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 Chicago if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Chicago graduates 13 percentage points more of its students than Kalamazoo.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Chicago graduates earn about $26,295 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Chicago is $11,077 lower than at Kalamazoo.
- Your transcript is a strength: Chicago admits 4% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Kalamazoo if…
- The number on the bill matters: Kalamazoo lists $15,312 less per year in tuition and housing than Chicago, and neither charges by residency.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Kalamazoo admits 75% of applicants.
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 | Chicago | Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $66,939 | $58,764 — Kalamazoo leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $19,221 | $12,084 — Kalamazoo leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $86,160 | $70,848 — Kalamazoo 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 | Chicago | Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 95% — Chicago leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 82% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $91,885/yr — Chicago leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $65,590/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 — Chicago leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $26,077 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 16% — Chicago leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 40% |
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 | Chicago | Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 4% | 75% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 18,339 | 1,196 |
| Where it is | Chicago, IL | Kalamazoo, MI |
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 | Chicago | Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | UAA | MIAA-D3 |
| Head coach | Ruth Kmak | Kelli Duimstra |
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 | Chicago | Kalamazoo |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Chicago
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.
Kalamazoo
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.
Chicago vs Kalamazoo: common questions
- Is Chicago or Kalamazoo cheaper?
- On published price, Kalamazoo is cheaper — about $70,848 a year in tuition and housing, against $86,160 at Chicago. 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, Chicago or Kalamazoo?
- Chicago, at 95% against 82% at Kalamazoo (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Chicago and Kalamazoo 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Chicago and Kalamazoo?
- 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 Chicago and Kalamazoo accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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