Hunter vs SUNY Old Westbury: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Hunter runs $5,073 less per year out of state; Hunter graduates 14 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 Hunter if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Hunter lists $5,073 less per year in tuition and housing than SUNY Old Westbury.
- You would be in-state: Hunter is $997 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than SUNY Old Westbury.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Hunter graduates 14 percentage points more of its students than SUNY Old Westbury.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Hunter graduates earn about $4,637 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean SUNY Old Westbury if…
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: SUNY Old Westbury admits 84% 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 | Hunter | SUNY Old Westbury |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $7,382 — Hunter leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $8,379 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $15,332 — Hunter leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $18,289 |
| Room & board | $11,324 — Hunter leads on this measure: lower room & board | $13,440 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,706 — Hunter leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $21,819 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $26,656 — Hunter leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $31,729 |
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 | Hunter | SUNY Old Westbury |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 61% — Hunter leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 47% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $63,163/yr — Hunter leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $58,526/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,000 — Hunter leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $14,997 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 17% — Hunter leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 26% |
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 | Hunter | SUNY Old Westbury |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 54% | 84% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 22,879 | 4,449 |
| Where it is | New York, NY | Old Westbury, NY |
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 | Hunter | SUNY Old Westbury |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CUNYAC | Skyline |
| Head coach | Mike Fisher | Tom Pennino |
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 | Hunter | SUNY Old Westbury |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | 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.
Hunter
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.
SUNY Old Westbury
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.
Hunter vs SUNY Old Westbury: common questions
- Is Hunter or SUNY Old Westbury cheaper?
- On published price, Hunter is cheaper — about $26,656 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $31,729 at SUNY Old Westbury. 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, Hunter or SUNY Old Westbury?
- Hunter, at 61% against 47% at SUNY Old Westbury (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Hunter and SUNY Old Westbury 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 Hunter and SUNY Old Westbury?
- 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 Hunter and SUNY Old Westbury 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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