Delaware Valley vs Hood: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the MAC. Delaware Valley runs $2,070 less per year; Hood graduates 3 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 Delaware Valley if…
- The number on the bill matters: Delaware Valley lists $2,070 less per year in tuition and housing than Hood, and neither charges by residency.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Delaware Valley admits 93% of applicants.
Lean Hood if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Hood graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Delaware Valley.
- Your transcript is a strength: Hood admits 78% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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 | Delaware Valley | Hood |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $43,300 — Delaware Valley leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $45,870 |
| Room & board | $14,750 | $14,250 — Hood leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $58,050 — Delaware Valley leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $60,120 |
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 | Delaware Valley | Hood |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 52% | 55% — Hood leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $55,838/yr | $57,089/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 | $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. | 45% | 44% |
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 | Delaware Valley | Hood |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 93% | 78% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,189 | 2,078 |
| Where it is | Doylestown, PA | Frederick, MD |
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 | Delaware Valley | Hood |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Jamie Stefani | Gregory Powers |
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 | Delaware Valley | Hood |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
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.
Delaware Valley
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.
Hood
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.
Delaware Valley vs Hood: common questions
- Is Delaware Valley or Hood cheaper?
- On published price, Delaware Valley is cheaper — about $58,050 a year in tuition and housing, against $60,120 at Hood. 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, Delaware Valley or Hood?
- Hood, at 55% against 52% at Delaware Valley (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Delaware Valley and Hood offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- How do I contact the coaches at Delaware Valley and Hood?
- 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 Delaware Valley and Hood accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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