Lewis & Clark vs Skidmore: Softball Program Comparison

Two D3 programs. Lewis & Clark runs $5,018 less per year; Skidmore graduates 11 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 Lewis & Clark if…

  • The number on the bill matters: Lewis & Clark lists $5,018 less per year in tuition and housing than Skidmore, and neither charges by residency.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Lewis & Clark against 2 at Skidmore.
  • Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Lewis & Clark admits 78% of applicants.

Lean Skidmore if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Skidmore graduates 11 percentage points more of its students than Lewis & Clark.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Skidmore graduates earn about $7,158 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • Your transcript is a strength: Skidmore admits 21% 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.

What it costs to go there: Lewis & Clark compared with Skidmore
MeasureLewis & ClarkSkidmore
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$62,350 Lewis & Clark leads on this measure: lower published tuition$65,030
Room & board$15,002 Lewis & Clark leads on this measure: lower room & board$17,340
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$77,352 Lewis & Clark leads on this measure: lower total cost per year$82,370

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.

What you leave with: Lewis & Clark compared with Skidmore
MeasureLewis & ClarkSkidmore
Graduation rate71%82% Skidmore leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$62,205/yr$69,363/yr Skidmore leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out
Median debt at graduation$19,500$19,500
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.31%28% Skidmore leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Lewis & Clark compared with Skidmore
MeasureLewis & ClarkSkidmore
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.78%21%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.3,5262,776
Where it isPortland, ORSaratoga Springs, 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.

The softball program itself: Lewis & Clark compared with Skidmore
MeasureLewis & ClarkSkidmore
ConferenceNWCLiberty League
Head coachShawna CyrusLiz Neubinski

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.

How you actually get in front of them: Lewis & Clark compared with Skidmore
MeasureLewis & ClarkSkidmore
Camps we track3 listed (3 with dates)2 listed (1 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

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.

How D3 softball scholarships actually work →

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.

Lewis & Clark

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Skidmore

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

Lewis & Clark vs Skidmore: common questions

Is Lewis & Clark or Skidmore cheaper?
On published price, Lewis & Clark is cheaper — about $77,352 a year in tuition and housing, against $82,370 at Skidmore. 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, Lewis & Clark or Skidmore?
Skidmore, at 82% against 71% at Lewis & Clark (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Lewis & Clark and Skidmore 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 Lewis & Clark and Skidmore run softball camps?
Both do — we track 3 at Lewis & Clark and 2 at Skidmore. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
How do I contact the coaches at Lewis & Clark and Skidmore?
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 Lewis & Clark and Skidmore accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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