Hardin-Simmons vs Puget Sound: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Hardin-Simmons runs $32,620 less per year; Puget Sound graduates 18 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 Hardin-Simmons if…
- The number on the bill matters: Hardin-Simmons lists $32,620 less per year in tuition and housing than Puget Sound, and neither charges by residency.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Hardin-Simmons against none listed at Puget Sound.
Lean Puget Sound if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Puget Sound graduates 18 percentage points more of its students than Hardin-Simmons.
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 | Hardin-Simmons | Puget Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $31,686 — Hardin-Simmons leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $59,900 |
| Room & board | $10,634 — Hardin-Simmons leads on this measure: lower room & board | $15,040 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $42,320 — Hardin-Simmons leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $74,940 |
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 | Hardin-Simmons | Puget Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 50% | 68% — Puget Sound leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $54,771/yr | — |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,711 | — |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 45% | — |
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 | Hardin-Simmons | Puget Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 90% | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,655 | 1,914 |
| Where it is | Abilene, TX | Tacoma, WA |
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 | Hardin-Simmons | Puget Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | ASC | NWC |
| Head coach | Casey Wilson | Kara Dressel |
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 | Hardin-Simmons | Puget Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | — |
| 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. 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.
Hardin-Simmons
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Prospect Camp | September 19th09/19/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $120
Puget Sound
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.
Hardin-Simmons vs Puget Sound: common questions
- Is Hardin-Simmons or Puget Sound cheaper?
- On published price, Hardin-Simmons is cheaper — about $42,320 a year in tuition and housing, against $74,940 at Puget Sound. 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, Hardin-Simmons or Puget Sound?
- Puget Sound, at 68% against 50% at Hardin-Simmons (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Hardin-Simmons and Puget Sound 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 Hardin-Simmons and Puget Sound run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Hardin-Simmons and none currently listed at Puget Sound. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Hardin-Simmons and Puget Sound?
- Puget Sound runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Hardin-Simmons, 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 Hardin-Simmons and Puget Sound accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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