Mars Hill vs Thomas More: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Mars Hill graduates 2 points more of its students; Thomas More graduates earn $14,603 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 Mars Hill if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Mars Hill graduates 2 percentage points more of its students than Thomas More.
- Your transcript is a strength: Mars Hill admits 68% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Thomas More if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Thomas More graduates earn about $14,603 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Thomas More admits 90% 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 | Mars Hill | Thomas More |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $37,270 | $38,400 |
| Room & board | $10,228 | $9,530 — Thomas More leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $47,498 | $47,930 |
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 | Mars Hill | Thomas More |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 42% — Mars Hill leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 40% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $44,781/yr | $59,384/yr — Thomas More leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 | $26,236 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 58% | 44% — Thomas More 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.
| Measure | Mars Hill | Thomas More |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 68% | 90% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,049 | 1,947 |
| Where it is | Mars Hill, NC | Crestview Hills, KY |
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 | Mars Hill | Thomas More |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SAC | G-MAC |
| Head coach | Dexlie Inman | Lindsay Eagan |
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 | Mars Hill | Thomas More |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based 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.
Mars Hill
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.
Thomas More
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.
Mars Hill vs Thomas More: common questions
- Is Mars Hill or Thomas More cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $47,498 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, Mars Hill or Thomas More?
- Mars Hill, at 42% against 40% at Thomas More (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Mars Hill and Thomas More offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Mars Hill and Thomas More?
- 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 Mars Hill and Thomas More accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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