Duke vs Notre Dame: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs in the ACC. Notre Dame runs $3,192 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 Duke if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Duke is $6,000 lower than at Notre Dame.
- You want to play in June: Duke has reached 3 more NCAA tournaments than Notre Dame since 2021.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Duke against none listed at Notre Dame.
- Academic reputation is part of the decision: U.S. News ranks Duke #7 against #18 for Notre Dame.
Lean Notre Dame if…
- The number on the bill matters: Notre Dame lists $3,192 less per year in tuition and housing than Duke, and neither charges by residency.
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 | Duke | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $65,805 | $62,693 — Notre Dame leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $17,458 | $17,378 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $83,263 | $80,071 — Notre Dame leads on this measure: lower total cost per year |
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 | Duke | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 96% | 97% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $97,800/yr | $99,980/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,000 — Duke leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $19,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 13% — Duke leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 19% |
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 | Duke | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 6% | 11% |
| U.S. News rankU.S. News Best Colleges 2026. Only ranked institutions appear. | #7 — Duke leads on this measure: ranked higher by U.S. News | #18 |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 17,112 | 13,174 |
| Where it is | Durham, NC | Notre Dame, IN |
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 | Duke | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 6 of the last 6 tournaments (1 WCWS) | 3 of the last 6 tournaments |
| NCAA RPI | #17 | — |
| Head coach | Marissa Young | Kris Ganeff |
| In the job since | 2017 | — |
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 | Duke | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | — |
| 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.
Duke
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Elite Hitting & Fielding Camp | August 22nd08/22/2026 · 7th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · $255.00
Notre Dame
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.
Duke vs Notre Dame: common questions
- Is Duke or Notre Dame cheaper?
- On published price, Notre Dame is cheaper — about $80,071 a year in tuition and housing, against $83,263 at Duke. 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, Duke or Notre Dame?
- Notre Dame, at 97% against 96% at Duke (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Duke and Notre Dame 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 Duke and Notre Dame run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Duke and none currently listed at Notre Dame. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Duke and Notre Dame?
- 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 Duke and Notre Dame accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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