Elmhurst vs St. Catherine: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Elmhurst runs $7,908 less per year; Elmhurst graduates earn $2,180 more a decade out.
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…
- The number on the bill matters: Elmhurst lists $7,908 less per year in tuition and housing than St. Catherine, and neither charges by residency.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Elmhurst graduates earn about $2,180 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Elmhurst is $3,692 lower than at St. Catherine.
- Your transcript is a strength: Elmhurst admits 74% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean St. Catherine if…
- 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 | Elmhurst | St. Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $41,628 — Elmhurst leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $49,758 |
| Room & board | $11,858 | $11,636 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $53,486 — Elmhurst leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $61,394 |
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 | Elmhurst | St. Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 65% | 65% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $61,462/yr — Elmhurst leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $59,282/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,489 — Elmhurst leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $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. | 33% — Elmhurst leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 41% |
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 | Elmhurst | St. Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 74% | 92% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,906 | 3,533 |
| Where it is | Elmhurst, IL | 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 | Elmhurst | St. Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CCIW | MIAC |
| Head coach | Tracie Adix-Zins | 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 | Elmhurst | St. Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Elmhurst
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.
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.
Elmhurst vs St. Catherine: common questions
- Is Elmhurst or St. Catherine cheaper?
- On published price, Elmhurst is cheaper — about $53,486 a year in tuition and housing, against $61,394 at St. Catherine. 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 St. Catherine?
- Both report a 65% graduation rate (IPEDS, 2023-24).
- Do Elmhurst 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Elmhurst and St. Catherine?
- Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst and St. Catherine accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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