Gwynedd Mercy vs Immaculata: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the AEC. Immaculata runs $11,032 less per year; Immaculata graduates 6 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 Gwynedd Mercy if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Gwynedd Mercy is $2,000 lower than at Immaculata.
Lean Immaculata if…
- The number on the bill matters: Immaculata lists $11,032 less per year in tuition and housing than Gwynedd Mercy, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Immaculata graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Gwynedd Mercy.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Immaculata graduates earn about $8,556 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 | Gwynedd Mercy | Immaculata |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $38,310 | $28,550 — Immaculata leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $14,142 | $12,870 — Immaculata leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $52,452 | $41,420 — Immaculata 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 | Gwynedd Mercy | Immaculata |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 58% | 64% — Immaculata leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $67,145/yr | $75,701/yr — Immaculata leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 — Gwynedd Mercy leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $27,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 37% | 36% — Immaculata 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 | Gwynedd Mercy | Immaculata |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 90% | 86% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,165 | 2,407 |
| Where it is | Gwynedd Valley, PA | Immaculata, 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 | Gwynedd Mercy | Immaculata |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | David Hoch | Alexa Peterson |
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 | Gwynedd Mercy | Immaculata |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Gwynedd Mercy
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.
Immaculata
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.
Gwynedd Mercy vs Immaculata: common questions
- Is Gwynedd Mercy or Immaculata cheaper?
- On published price, Immaculata is cheaper — about $41,420 a year in tuition and housing, against $52,452 at Gwynedd Mercy. 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, Gwynedd Mercy or Immaculata?
- Immaculata, at 64% against 58% at Gwynedd Mercy (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Gwynedd Mercy and Immaculata 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 Gwynedd Mercy and Immaculata?
- Gwynedd Mercy runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Immaculata, 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 Gwynedd Mercy and Immaculata accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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