Cottey vs Saint Mary: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Saint Mary runs $3,669 less per year; Cottey graduates 2 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 Cottey if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Cottey graduates 2 percentage points more of its students than Saint Mary.
Lean Saint Mary if…
- The number on the bill matters: Saint Mary lists $3,669 less per year in tuition and housing than Cottey, 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 | Cottey | Saint Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $26,209 | $23,340 — Saint Mary leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $9,450 | $8,650 — Saint Mary leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $35,659 | $31,990 — Saint Mary 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 | Cottey | Saint Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 61% — Cottey leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 59% |
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 | Cottey | Saint Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 266 | 733 |
| Where it is | Nevada, MO | Omaha, NE |
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 | Cottey | Saint Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | AMC | GPAC |
| Head coach | — | Carolyn Bray |
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 | Cottey | Saint Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | 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.
Cottey
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Saint Mary
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.
Cottey vs Saint Mary: common questions
- Is Cottey or Saint Mary cheaper?
- On published price, Saint Mary is cheaper — about $31,990 a year in tuition and housing, against $35,659 at Cottey. 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, Cottey or Saint Mary?
- Cottey, at 61% against 59% at Saint Mary (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Cottey and Saint Mary 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 Cottey and Saint Mary?
- Saint Mary runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Cottey, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 Cottey and Saint Mary accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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