Clarkson vs Salve Regina: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Salve Regina runs $9,536 less per year; Clarkson graduates earn $16,721 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 Clarkson if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Clarkson graduates earn about $16,721 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Clarkson is $1,000 lower than at Salve Regina.
Lean Salve Regina if…
- The number on the bill matters: Salve Regina lists $9,536 less per year in tuition and housing than Clarkson, and neither charges by residency.
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 | Clarkson | Salve Regina |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $57,950 | $47,930 — Salve Regina leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $17,016 | $17,500 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $74,966 | $65,430 — Salve Regina 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 | Clarkson | Salve Regina |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 74% | 75% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $89,696/yr — Clarkson leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $72,975/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 — Clarkson leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $27,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 29% — Clarkson leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 37% |
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 | Clarkson | Salve Regina |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 77% | 68% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,603 | 2,836 |
| Where it is | Potsdam, NY | Newport, RI |
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 | Clarkson | Salve Regina |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Liberty League | NEWMAC |
| Head coach | Kristen McGaughey | Shauna DeLade |
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 | Clarkson | Salve Regina |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Clarkson
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.
Salve Regina
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.
Clarkson vs Salve Regina: common questions
- Is Clarkson or Salve Regina cheaper?
- On published price, Salve Regina is cheaper — about $65,430 a year in tuition and housing, against $74,966 at Clarkson. 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, Clarkson or Salve Regina?
- Salve Regina, at 75% against 74% at Clarkson (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Clarkson and Salve Regina 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 Clarkson and Salve Regina?
- 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 Clarkson and Salve Regina accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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