Elmhurst vs Mount Union: Softball Program Comparison

Two D3 programs. Mount Union runs $6,586 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 Elmhurst if…

  • On the figures we hold, Elmhurst does not lead Mount Union on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.

Lean Mount Union if…

  • The number on the bill matters: Mount Union lists $6,586 less per year in tuition and housing than Elmhurst, and neither charges by residency.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Mount Union against none listed at Elmhurst.

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: Elmhurst compared with Mount Union
MeasureElmhurstMount Union
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$41,628$35,400 Mount Union leads on this measure: lower published tuition
Room & board$11,858$11,500 Mount Union leads on this measure: lower room & board
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$53,486$46,900 Mount Union 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.

What you leave with: Elmhurst compared with Mount Union
MeasureElmhurstMount Union
Graduation rate65%65%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$61,462/yr
Median debt at graduation$20,489
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.33%

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: Elmhurst compared with Mount Union
MeasureElmhurstMount Union
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.74%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.3,9062,169
Where it isElmhurst, ILAlliance, OH

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: Elmhurst compared with Mount Union
MeasureElmhurstMount Union
ConferenceCCIWOAC
Head coachTracie Adix-ZinsMeghan Simons

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: Elmhurst compared with Mount Union
MeasureElmhurstMount Union
Camps we track2 listed (1 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

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.

Elmhurst

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.

Mount Union

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Elmhurst vs Mount Union: common questions

Is Elmhurst or Mount Union cheaper?
On published price, Mount Union is cheaper — about $46,900 a year in tuition and housing, against $53,486 at Elmhurst. 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, Elmhurst or Mount Union?
Both report a 65% graduation rate (IPEDS, 2023-24).
Do Elmhurst and Mount Union 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 Elmhurst and Mount Union run softball camps?
We track 2 camps at Mount Union and none currently listed at Elmhurst. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at Elmhurst and Mount Union?
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 Elmhurst and Mount Union accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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