Massachusetts vs Stony Brook: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Stony Brook runs $6,150 less per year out of state; Massachusetts graduates 5 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 Massachusetts if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Massachusetts graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than Stony Brook.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Massachusetts against none listed at Stony Brook.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Massachusetts admits 83% of applicants.
Lean Stony Brook if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Stony Brook lists $6,150 less per year in tuition and housing than Massachusetts.
- You would be in-state: Stony Brook is $6,797 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Massachusetts.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Stony Brook graduates earn about $9,628 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Stony Brook is $5,476 lower than at Massachusetts.
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 | Massachusetts | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $17,357 | $10,560 — Stony Brook leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $39,293 | $30,350 — Stony Brook leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $14,869 — Massachusetts leads on this measure: lower room & board | $17,662 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $32,226 | $28,222 — Stony Brook leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $54,162 | $48,012 — Stony Brook leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
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 | Massachusetts | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 83% — Massachusetts leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 78% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $64,874/yr | $74,502/yr — Stony Brook leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,704 | $18,228 — Stony Brook 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. | 37% | 24% — Stony Brook 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 | Massachusetts | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 83% | 49% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 31,810 | 25,865 |
| Where it is | Amherst, MA | Stony Brook, 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.
| Measure | Massachusetts | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MAC | CAA |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Danielle Henderson | Megan T. Bryant |
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 | Massachusetts | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
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.
Massachusetts
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Prospect Camps | August 9th08/09/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $266
Stony Brook
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.
Massachusetts vs Stony Brook: common questions
- Is Massachusetts or Stony Brook cheaper?
- On published price, Stony Brook is cheaper — about $48,012 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $54,162 at Massachusetts. 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, Massachusetts or Stony Brook?
- Massachusetts, at 83% against 78% at Stony Brook (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Massachusetts and Stony Brook offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
- Do Massachusetts and Stony Brook run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Massachusetts and none currently listed at Stony Brook. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Massachusetts and Stony Brook?
- 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 Massachusetts and Stony Brook accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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