Houston vs UT San Antonio: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Houston graduates 14 points more of its students; Houston graduates earn $5,246 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 Houston if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Houston graduates 14 percentage points more of its students than UT San Antonio.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Houston graduates earn about $5,246 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Houston is $2,306 lower than at UT San Antonio.
- Your transcript is a strength: Houston admits 74% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean UT San Antonio if…
- You would be in-state: UT San Antonio is $720 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Houston.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at UT San Antonio against 1 at Houston.
- You want the more realistic path to a roster spot: UT San Antonio rates competitive to recruit against very competitive at Houston.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: UT San Antonio admits 87% of applicants.
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 | Houston | UT San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,711 | $8,991 — UT San Antonio leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $22,191 | $21,965 |
| Room & board | $10,830 — Houston leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,843 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $20,541 | $20,834 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $33,021 | $33,808 |
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 | Houston | UT San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 65% — Houston leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 51% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $62,377/yr — Houston leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $57,131/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,194 — Houston leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $20,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 29% — Houston leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 36% |
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 | Houston | UT San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 74% | 87% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 46,676 | 34,864 |
| Where it is | Houston, TX | San Antonio, TX |
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 | Houston | UT San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Big 12 | American |
| Conference level | Power Conference | High Major |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Recruiting difficultyHow hard it typically is to earn a roster spot here. | Very Competitive | Competitive |
| Head coach | Chrissy Schoonmaker | Vann Stuedeman |
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 | Houston | UT San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed | 3 listed (2 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
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.
Houston
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
UT San Antonio
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- UT San Antonio Softball Camps
- Pitching & Catching Prospect Camp | August 15th | 10:00am - 12:00pm08/15/2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · See Prices
- Prospect Camp | August 15th | 1:00pm - 4:00pm08/15/2026 · 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026 · $175.00
Houston vs UT San Antonio: common questions
- Is Houston or UT San Antonio cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $33,021 a year out of state 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, Houston or UT San Antonio?
- Houston, at 65% against 51% at UT San Antonio (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Houston and UT San Antonio offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
- Which is harder to get recruited by?
- Houston rates very competitive against competitive at UT San Antonio. This is an elite D1 program. Recruits typically have extensive travel ball experience, strong academics, and begin the recruiting process early.
- Do Houston and UT San Antonio run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 1 at Houston and 3 at UT San Antonio. 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 Houston and UT San Antonio?
- UT San Antonio runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Houston, 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 Houston and UT San Antonio accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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