Dickinson vs Skidmore: Softball Program Comparison

Two D3 programs. The tables below cover cost, academics and program record for both.

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 Dickinson if…

  • Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Dickinson admits 42% of applicants.

Lean Skidmore if…

  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Skidmore against none listed at Dickinson.
  • Your transcript is a strength: Skidmore admits 21% 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.

What it costs to go there: Dickinson compared with Skidmore
MeasureDickinsonSkidmore
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$63,475$65,030
Room & board$16,500 Dickinson leads on this measure: lower room & board$17,340
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$79,975$82,370

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.

What you leave with: Dickinson compared with Skidmore
MeasureDickinsonSkidmore
Graduation rate83%82%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$70,204/yr$69,363/yr
Median debt at graduation$19,000$19,500
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.27% Dickinson leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn28%

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Dickinson compared with Skidmore
MeasureDickinsonSkidmore
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.42%21%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.2,2172,776
Where it isCarlisle, PASaratoga Springs, NY

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.

The softball program itself: Dickinson compared with Skidmore
MeasureDickinsonSkidmore
ConferenceCentennialLiberty League
Head coachMatt RichwineLiz Neubinski

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.

How you actually get in front of them: Dickinson compared with Skidmore
MeasureDickinsonSkidmore
Camps we track3 listed (2 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

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.

How D3 softball scholarships actually work →

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.

Dickinson

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Skidmore

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Dickinson vs Skidmore: common questions

Is Dickinson or Skidmore cheaper?
Published cost is effectively the same — about $79,975 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
Which school graduates more of its students, Dickinson or Skidmore?
Dickinson, at 83% against 82% at Skidmore (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Dickinson and Skidmore 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.
Do Dickinson and Skidmore run softball camps?
We track 3 camps at Skidmore and none currently listed at Dickinson. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Dickinson and Skidmore?
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 Dickinson and Skidmore accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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