Dayton vs Saint Louis: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs in the Atlantic 10. Dayton runs $4,574 less per year; Dayton graduates earn $4,754 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 Dayton if…
- The number on the bill matters: Dayton lists $4,574 less per year in tuition and housing than Saint Louis, and neither charges by residency.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Dayton graduates earn about $4,754 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Dayton is $1,750 lower than at Saint Louis.
Lean Saint Louis if…
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Saint Louis against none listed at Dayton.
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 | Saint Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $47,600 — Dayton leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $53,244 |
| Room & board | $15,640 | $14,570 — Saint Louis leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| 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 | $67,814 |
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 | Saint Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 82% | 80% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $75,537/yr — Dayton leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $70,783/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 | 35% |
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 | Saint Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 65% | 75% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 11,304 | 17,202 |
| Where it is | Dayton, OH | Saint Louis, MO |
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 | Saint Louis |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 1 of the last 6 tournaments | 1 of the last 6 tournaments |
| Head coach | Cara Clark | Christy Connoyer |
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 | Saint Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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. 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.
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.
Dayton vs Saint Louis: common questions
- Is Dayton or Saint Louis cheaper?
- On published price, Dayton is cheaper — about $63,240 a year in tuition and housing, against $67,814 at Saint Louis. 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 Saint Louis?
- Dayton, at 82% against 80% at Saint Louis (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Dayton and Saint Louis 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.
- Do Dayton and Saint Louis run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Saint Louis and none currently listed at Dayton. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Dayton and Saint Louis?
- 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 Saint Louis accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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