Colorado School of Mines vs Davenport: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Davenport runs $26,506 less per year out of state; Colorado School of Mines graduates 29 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 Colorado School of Mines if…
- You would be in-state: Colorado School of Mines is $2,138 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Davenport.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Colorado School of Mines graduates 29 percentage points more of its students than Davenport.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Colorado School of Mines graduates earn about $52,236 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Colorado School of Mines is $3,000 lower than at Davenport.
Lean Davenport if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Davenport lists $26,506 less per year in tuition and housing than Colorado School of Mines.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Davenport admits 98% 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 | Colorado School of Mines | Davenport |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $21,186 — Colorado School of Mines leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $23,324 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $44,376 | $23,324 — Davenport leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $16,820 | $11,366 — Davenport leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $38,006 | $34,690 — Davenport 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. | $61,196 | $34,690 — Davenport 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 | Colorado School of Mines | Davenport |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 79% — Colorado School of Mines leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 50% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $97,335/yr — Colorado School of Mines leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $45,099/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 — Colorado School of Mines leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $26,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 24% — Colorado School of Mines leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 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 | Colorado School of Mines | Davenport |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 61% | 98% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 7,599 | 4,848 |
| Where it is | Golden, CO | Grand Rapids, 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 | Colorado School of Mines | Davenport |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | RMAC | GLIAC |
| Head coach | Tobin Echo-Hawk | Brad Koch |
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 | Colorado School of Mines | Davenport |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | 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.
Colorado School of Mines
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.
Davenport
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.
Colorado School of Mines vs Davenport: common questions
- Is Colorado School of Mines or Davenport cheaper?
- On published price, Davenport is cheaper — about $34,690 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $61,196 at Colorado School of Mines. 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, Colorado School of Mines or Davenport?
- Colorado School of Mines, at 79% against 50% at Davenport (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Colorado School of Mines and Davenport 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 Colorado School of Mines and Davenport?
- 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 Colorado School of Mines and Davenport accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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