Franklin vs Loras: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Loras graduates 8 points more of its students; Loras graduates earn $2,913 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 Franklin if…
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Franklin against 2 at Loras.
- Your transcript is a strength: Franklin admits 70% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Loras if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Loras graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than Franklin.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Loras graduates earn about $2,913 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Loras is $1,000 lower than at Franklin.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Loras admits 100% of applicants.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board 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 | Franklin | Loras |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $38,710 | $39,824 |
| Room & board | $11,290 | $9,668 — Loras leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $50,000 | $49,492 |
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 | Franklin | Loras |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% | 68% — Loras leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $55,376/yr | $58,289/yr — Loras leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 | $26,000 — Loras leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 49% | 45% — Loras 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 | Franklin | Loras |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 70% | 100% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 966 | 1,213 |
| Where it is | Franklin, IN | Dubuque, IA |
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 | Franklin | Loras |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | HCAC | ARC |
| Head coach | Brittney Harvey | Ashley Winter |
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 | Franklin | Loras |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 3 listed (3 with dates) | 2 listed (2 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | 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.
Franklin
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Hitting Camp | December12/06/2026 · 6th Grade - 12th Grade · $0
- Catching Camp02/21/2027 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $50
- Hitting Camp | February02/21/2027 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $0
Loras
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Loras Softball Advanced Hitting Camp12/05/2026 · 10th Grade - College Sophomore · $50
- Loras Softball Pitching Camp12/05/2026 · 3rd Grade - 12th Grade · $40
Franklin vs Loras: common questions
- Is Franklin or Loras cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $50,000 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Franklin or Loras?
- Loras, at 68% against 60% at Franklin (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Franklin and Loras 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 Franklin and Loras run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 3 at Franklin and 2 at Loras. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
- How do I contact the coaches at Franklin and Loras?
- 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.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). 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 Franklin and Loras accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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