Columbia International vs Mobile: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Mobile runs $2,264 less per year; Mobile graduates 10 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 Columbia International if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Columbia International is $6,500 lower than at Mobile.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Columbia International admits 94% of applicants.
Lean Mobile if…
- The number on the bill matters: Mobile lists $2,264 less per year in tuition and housing than Columbia International, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Mobile graduates 10 percentage points more of its students than Columbia International.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Mobile graduates earn about $4,660 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Mobile against none listed at Columbia International.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board 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 | Columbia International | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $27,900 | $26,910 — Mobile leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $11,950 | $10,676 — Mobile leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $39,850 | $37,586 — Mobile 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 | Columbia International | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 47% | 57% — Mobile leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $38,951/yr | $43,611/yr — Mobile leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,000 — Columbia International leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $26,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 51% — Columbia International leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 61% |
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 | Columbia International | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 94% | 78% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,631 | 1,911 |
| Where it is | Columbia, SC | Mobile, AL |
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 | Columbia International | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | AAC | SSAC |
| Head coach | Sara Allen | Alison Sellers-Cook |
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 | Columbia International | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | 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. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
Columbia International
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.
Mobile
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- UM Showcase | December 6th | 1:00pm - 5:00pm12/06/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $125
Columbia International vs Mobile: common questions
- Is Columbia International or Mobile cheaper?
- On published price, Mobile is cheaper — about $37,586 a year in tuition and housing, against $39,850 at Columbia International. 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, Columbia International or Mobile?
- Mobile, at 57% against 47% at Columbia International (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Columbia International and Mobile 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.
- Do Columbia International and Mobile run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Mobile and none currently listed at Columbia International. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Columbia International and Mobile?
- 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.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). 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 Columbia International and Mobile accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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