Kalamazoo vs Saint Benedict: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Saint Benedict runs $4,804 less per year; Kalamazoo graduates earn $2,330 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 Kalamazoo if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Kalamazoo graduates earn about $2,330 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Kalamazoo is $867 lower than at Saint Benedict.
- Your transcript is a strength: Kalamazoo admits 75% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Saint Benedict if…
- The number on the bill matters: Saint Benedict lists $4,804 less per year in tuition and housing than Kalamazoo, and neither charges by residency.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Saint Benedict against none listed at Kalamazoo.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Saint Benedict admits 92% 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 | Kalamazoo | Saint Benedict |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $58,764 | $53,884 — Saint Benedict leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $12,084 | $12,160 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $70,848 | $66,044 — Saint Benedict leads on this measure: lower total cost per year |
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 | Kalamazoo | Saint Benedict |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 82% | 83% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $65,590/yr — Kalamazoo leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $63,260/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,077 — Kalamazoo leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $26,944 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 40% — Kalamazoo leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 43% |
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 | Kalamazoo | Saint Benedict |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 75% | 92% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,196 | 1,451 |
| Where it is | Kalamazoo, MI | Saint Joseph, MN |
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 | Kalamazoo | Saint Benedict |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MIAA-D3 | MIAC |
| Head coach | Kelli Duimstra | Rachael Click |
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 | Kalamazoo | Saint Benedict |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 3 listed (3 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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. 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.
Kalamazoo
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.
Saint Benedict
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Youth Camp | Fundamentals08/27/2026 · 1st Grade - 7th Grade · $50
- Youth Camp | Play08/27/2026 · 1st Grade - 7th Grade · $50
- Fall Prospect Camp09/25/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $50
Kalamazoo vs Saint Benedict: common questions
- Is Kalamazoo or Saint Benedict cheaper?
- On published price, Saint Benedict is cheaper — about $66,044 a year in tuition and housing, against $70,848 at Kalamazoo. 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, Kalamazoo or Saint Benedict?
- Saint Benedict, at 83% against 82% at Kalamazoo (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Kalamazoo and Saint Benedict 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 Kalamazoo and Saint Benedict run softball camps?
- We track 3 camps at Saint Benedict and none currently listed at Kalamazoo. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Kalamazoo and Saint Benedict?
- 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 Kalamazoo and Saint Benedict accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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