Judson vs Our Lady of the Lake: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Judson graduates 11 points more of its students; Judson graduates earn $7,638 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 Judson if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Judson graduates 11 percentage points more of its students than Our Lady of the Lake.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Judson graduates earn about $7,638 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Our Lady of the Lake if…
- On the figures we hold, Our Lady of the Lake does not lead Judson 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 | Judson | Our Lady of the Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $30,910 | $31,728 |
| Room & board | $11,820 | $10,706 — Our Lady of the Lake leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $42,730 | $42,434 |
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 | Judson | Our Lady of the Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 53% — Judson leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 42% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $56,313/yr — Judson leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $48,675/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 | $24,999 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 44% — Judson leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 51% |
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 | Judson | Our Lady of the Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 48% | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,058 | 2,096 |
| Where it is | Elgin, IL | 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 | Judson | Our Lady of the Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CCAC | RRAC |
| Head coach | Laura Starkey | Bruce Lenington |
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 | Judson | Our Lady of the Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NAIA, so the scholarship rules are identical: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
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.
Judson
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.
Our Lady of the Lake
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.
Judson vs Our Lady of the Lake: common questions
- Is Judson or Our Lady of the Lake cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $42,730 a year 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, Judson or Our Lady of the Lake?
- Judson, at 53% against 42% at Our Lady of the Lake (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Judson and Our Lady of the Lake offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NAIA: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Judson and Our Lady of the Lake?
- 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 Judson and Our Lady of the Lake 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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