La Sierra vs Warner Pacific: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Warner Pacific runs $12,348 less per year; Warner Pacific 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 La Sierra if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: La Sierra graduates earn about $6,620 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: La Sierra admits 92% of applicants.
Lean Warner Pacific if…
- The number on the bill matters: Warner Pacific lists $12,348 less per year in tuition and housing than La Sierra, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Warner Pacific graduates 14 percentage points more of its students than La Sierra.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Warner Pacific is $2,000 lower than at La Sierra.
- Your transcript is a strength: Warner Pacific admits 71% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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 | La Sierra | Warner Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $35,910 | $21,010 — Warner Pacific leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $11,670 — La Sierra leads on this measure: lower room & board | $14,222 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $47,580 | $35,232 — Warner Pacific 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 | La Sierra | Warner Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 68% | 82% — Warner Pacific leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $61,824/yr — La Sierra leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $55,204/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 | $25,000 — Warner Pacific leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 44% — La Sierra 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 | La Sierra | Warner Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 92% | 71% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,611 | 350 |
| Where it is | Riverside, CA | Portland, OR |
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 | La Sierra | Warner Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GSAC | CCC |
| Head coach | Tom Ogle | Ashton Porter |
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 | La Sierra | Warner Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
La Sierra
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.
Warner Pacific
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.
La Sierra vs Warner Pacific: common questions
- Is La Sierra or Warner Pacific cheaper?
- On published price, Warner Pacific is cheaper — about $35,232 a year in tuition and housing, against $47,580 at La Sierra. 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, La Sierra or Warner Pacific?
- Warner Pacific, at 82% against 68% at La Sierra (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do La Sierra and Warner Pacific 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 La Sierra and Warner Pacific?
- 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 La Sierra and Warner Pacific 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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