Dayton vs Sacred Heart: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Dayton runs $3,670 less per year; Dayton graduates 8 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 Dayton if…
- The number on the bill matters: Dayton lists $3,670 less per year in tuition and housing than Sacred Heart, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Dayton graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than Sacred Heart.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Dayton is $1,750 lower than at Sacred Heart.
- You want to play in June: Dayton has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than Sacred Heart since 2021.
Lean Sacred Heart if…
- On the figures we hold, Sacred Heart does not lead Dayton on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
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 | Dayton | Sacred Heart |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $47,600 | $48,460 |
| Room & board | $15,640 — Dayton leads on this measure: lower room & board | $18,450 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $63,240 — Dayton leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $66,910 |
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 | Dayton | Sacred Heart |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 82% — Dayton leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 74% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $75,537/yr | $75,059/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 — Dayton leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 31% — Dayton leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 33% |
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 | Dayton | Sacred Heart |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 65% | 65% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 11,304 | 11,179 |
| Where it is | Dayton, OH | Fairfield, CT |
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 | Dayton | Sacred Heart |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Atlantic 10 | MAAC |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 1 of the last 6 tournaments | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Cara Clark | Pam London |
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 | Dayton | Sacred Heart |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
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.
Dayton
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.
Sacred Heart
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.
Dayton vs Sacred Heart: common questions
- Is Dayton or Sacred Heart cheaper?
- On published price, Dayton is cheaper — about $63,240 a year in tuition and housing, against $66,910 at Sacred Heart. 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, Dayton or Sacred Heart?
- Dayton, at 82% against 74% at Sacred Heart (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Dayton and Sacred Heart offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
- How do I contact the coaches at Dayton and Sacred Heart?
- 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 Dayton and Sacred Heart 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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