Embry-Riddle vs Tampa: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the SSC. Tampa runs $9,874 less per year; Embry-Riddle graduates 5 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 Embry-Riddle if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Embry-Riddle graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than Tampa.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Embry-Riddle graduates earn about $24,695 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Embry-Riddle admits 58% of applicants.
Lean Tampa if…
- The number on the bill matters: Tampa lists $9,874 less per year in tuition and housing than Embry-Riddle, and neither charges by residency.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Tampa against none listed at Embry-Riddle.
- Your transcript is a strength: Tampa admits 40% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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 | Embry-Riddle | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $42,304 | $33,424 — Tampa leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $13,670 | $12,676 — Tampa leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $55,974 | $46,100 — Tampa 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 | Embry-Riddle | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 67% — Embry-Riddle leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 62% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $84,131/yr — Embry-Riddle leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $59,436/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,666 | $24,211 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 28% — Embry-Riddle 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 | Embry-Riddle | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 58% | 40% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 11,070 | 11,054 |
| Where it is | Daytona Beach, FL | Tampa, FL |
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 | Embry-Riddle | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kelsi Dunne Diaz | Leslie Kanter |
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 | Embry-Riddle | Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 3 listed (3 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
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.
Embry-Riddle
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.
Tampa
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- July Prospect Clinic 1July 20th, 2026 · Register
- July Prospect Summer CampJuly 21st, 2026 - July 22nd, 2026 · Sold Out
- July Prospect Clinic 2July 27th, 2026 · Register
Embry-Riddle vs Tampa: common questions
- Is Embry-Riddle or Tampa cheaper?
- On published price, Tampa is cheaper — about $46,100 a year in tuition and housing, against $55,974 at Embry-Riddle. 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, Embry-Riddle or Tampa?
- Embry-Riddle, at 67% against 62% at Tampa (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Embry-Riddle and Tampa offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- Do Embry-Riddle and Tampa run softball camps?
- We track 3 camps at Tampa and none currently listed at Embry-Riddle. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Embry-Riddle and Tampa?
- 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 Embry-Riddle and Tampa accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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