Drake vs St. Thomas: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Drake runs $3,414 less per year.
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 Drake if…
- The number on the bill matters: Drake lists $3,414 less per year in tuition and housing than St. Thomas, and neither charges by residency.
- Your transcript is a strength: Drake admits 64% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean St. Thomas if…
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 7 camps at St. Thomas against 3 at Drake.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: St. Thomas admits 85% of applicants.
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 | Drake | St. Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $49,944 — Drake leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $52,284 |
| Room & board | $11,858 — Drake leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,932 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $61,802 — Drake leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $65,216 |
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 | Drake | St. Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 77% | 75% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $71,901/yr | $73,739/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 | $23,250 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 32% | 32% |
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 | Drake | St. Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 64% | 85% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,504 | 9,121 |
| Where it is | Des Moines, IA | Saint Paul, MN |
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 | Drake | St. Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Missouri Valley | Summit |
| Conference level | High Major | Mid-Major |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Lindsay Diehl | Jennifer Trotter |
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 | Drake | St. Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 3 listed (3 with dates) | 7 listed (7 with dates) |
| 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. 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.
Drake
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- August Prospect CampAugust 22nd, 2026 · 8th - College Junior Grade as of Fall 20 · Register
- Junior Bulldogs CampAugust 29th, 2026 · 3rd - 7th Grade as of Fall 2026 · Register
- September Prospect CampSeptember 26th, 2026 · 8th - College Junior Grade as of Fall 20 · Register
St. Thomas
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- August Prospect Camp I08/01/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $150
- August Prospect Camp II08/22/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $250
- UST Fall Hitting & Pitching Clinics | September 8th09/08/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $50
- UST Fall Hitting & Pitching Clinics | September 15th09/15/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $50
Drake vs St. Thomas: common questions
- Is Drake or St. Thomas cheaper?
- On published price, Drake is cheaper — about $61,802 a year in tuition and housing, against $65,216 at St. Thomas. 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, Drake or St. Thomas?
- Drake, at 77% against 75% at St. Thomas (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Drake and St. Thomas 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 Drake and St. Thomas run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 3 at Drake and 7 at St. Thomas. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
- How do I contact the coaches at Drake and St. Thomas?
- 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 Drake and St. Thomas accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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