John Carroll vs Saint Mary's: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. John Carroll runs $2,020 less per year; John Carroll graduates earn $3,506 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 John Carroll if…
- The number on the bill matters: John Carroll lists $2,020 less per year in tuition and housing than Saint Mary's, and neither charges by residency.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: John Carroll graduates earn about $3,506 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at John Carroll is $1,000 lower than at Saint Mary's.
Lean Saint Mary's if…
- On the figures we hold, Saint Mary's does not lead John Carroll 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 | John Carroll | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $49,100 — John Carroll leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $51,430 |
| Room & board | $14,160 | $13,850 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $63,260 — John Carroll leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $65,280 |
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 | John Carroll | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 76% | 77% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $62,860/yr — John Carroll leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $59,354/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 — John Carroll 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. | 41% — John Carroll leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 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 | John Carroll | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 81% | 76% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,773 | 1,518 |
| Where it is | University Heights, OH | Notre Dame, IN |
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 | John Carroll | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | OAC | MIAA-D3 |
| Head coach | Tony Scibelli | Jordyn Walter |
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 | John Carroll | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
John Carroll
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.
Saint Mary's
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.
John Carroll vs Saint Mary's: common questions
- Is John Carroll or Saint Mary's cheaper?
- On published price, John Carroll is cheaper — about $63,260 a year in tuition and housing, against $65,280 at Saint Mary's. 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, John Carroll or Saint Mary's?
- Saint Mary's, at 77% against 76% at John Carroll (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do John Carroll and Saint Mary's 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 John Carroll and Saint Mary's?
- Saint Mary's runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For John Carroll, 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 John Carroll and Saint Mary's 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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