Fitchburg State vs Salem State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the LEC. Fitchburg State runs $3,988 less per year out of state; Salem State graduates 2 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 Fitchburg State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Fitchburg State lists $3,988 less per year in tuition and housing than Salem State.
- You would be in-state: Fitchburg State is $932 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Salem State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Fitchburg State is $761 lower than at Salem State.
Lean Salem State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Salem State graduates 2 percentage points more of its students than Fitchburg State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Salem State graduates earn about $2,788 more per year a decade after enrolling.
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 | Fitchburg State | Salem State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $11,046 — Fitchburg State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $11,978 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $17,126 — Fitchburg State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $18,961 |
| Room & board | $14,225 — Fitchburg State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $16,378 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $25,271 — Fitchburg State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $28,356 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $31,351 — Fitchburg State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $35,339 |
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 | Fitchburg State | Salem State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 53% | 55% — Salem State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $53,874/yr | $56,662/yr — Salem State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,239 — Fitchburg State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 45% | 44% |
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 | Fitchburg State | Salem State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 87% | 96% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 6,296 | 6,239 |
| Where it is | Fitchburg, MA | Salem, MA |
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 | Fitchburg State | Salem State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Carissa Cicolini | Ryan Leahy |
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 | Fitchburg State | Salem State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | 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.
Fitchburg State
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.
Salem State
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.
Fitchburg State vs Salem State: common questions
- Is Fitchburg State or Salem State cheaper?
- On published price, Fitchburg State is cheaper — about $31,351 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $35,339 at Salem State. 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, Fitchburg State or Salem State?
- Salem State, at 55% against 53% at Fitchburg State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Fitchburg State and Salem State 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 Fitchburg State and Salem State?
- 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 Fitchburg State and Salem State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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