Fredonia vs Penn State Altoona: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Fredonia runs $6,467 less per year out of state; Fredonia graduates 35 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 Fredonia if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Fredonia lists $6,467 less per year in tuition and housing than Penn State Altoona.
- You would be in-state: Fredonia is $7,173 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Fredonia graduates 35 percentage points more of its students than Penn State Altoona.
Lean Penn State Altoona if…
- On the figures we hold, Penn State Altoona does not lead Fredonia 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.
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 | Fredonia | Penn State Altoona |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,771 — Fredonia leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $15,944 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $19,191 — Fredonia leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $26,668 |
| Room & board | $14,830 | $13,820 — Penn State Altoona leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $23,601 — Fredonia leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $29,764 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $34,021 — Fredonia leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $40,488 |
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 | Fredonia | Penn State Altoona |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 53% — Fredonia leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 18% |
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 | Fredonia | Penn State Altoona |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,220 | 2,421 |
| Where it is | Fredonia, NY | Altoona, PA |
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 | Fredonia | Penn State Altoona |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SUNYAC | AMCC |
| Head coach | Tony Ciccarello | Bill Graham |
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 | Fredonia | Penn State Altoona |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Fredonia
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.
Penn State Altoona
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.
Fredonia vs Penn State Altoona: common questions
- Is Fredonia or Penn State Altoona cheaper?
- On published price, Fredonia is cheaper — about $34,021 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $40,488 at Penn State Altoona. 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, Fredonia or Penn State Altoona?
- Fredonia, at 53% against 18% at Penn State Altoona (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Fredonia and Penn State Altoona 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 Fredonia and Penn State Altoona?
- 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 Fredonia and Penn State Altoona 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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