Earlham vs St. Catherine: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. St. Catherine runs $3,639 less per year; Earlham 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 Earlham if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Earlham graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than St. Catherine.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Earlham against none listed at St. Catherine.
- Your transcript is a strength: Earlham admits 73% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean St. Catherine if…
- The number on the bill matters: St. Catherine lists $3,639 less per year in tuition and housing than Earlham, and neither charges by residency.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: St. Catherine graduates earn about $8,485 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: St. Catherine admits 92% 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 | Earlham | St. Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $51,840 | $49,758 — St. Catherine leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $13,193 | $11,636 — St. Catherine leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $65,033 | $61,394 — St. Catherine 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 | Earlham | St. Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 68% — Earlham leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 65% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $50,797/yr | $59,282/yr — St. Catherine leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,488 | $24,181 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 46% | 41% — St. Catherine leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
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 | Earlham | St. Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 73% | 92% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 696 | 3,533 |
| Where it is | Richmond, IN | 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 | Earlham | St. Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | HCAC | MIAC |
| Head coach | Stacey Goyette | Colleen 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 | Earlham | St. Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | 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. 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.
St. Catherine
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Earlham vs St. Catherine: common questions
- Is Earlham or St. Catherine cheaper?
- On published price, St. Catherine is cheaper — about $61,394 a year in tuition and housing, against $65,033 at Earlham. 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, Earlham or St. Catherine?
- Earlham, at 68% against 65% at St. Catherine (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Earlham and St. Catherine 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 Earlham and St. Catherine run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Earlham and none currently listed at St. Catherine. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Earlham and St. Catherine?
- Earlham runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For St. Catherine, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 Earlham and St. Catherine accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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