Mercy vs Slippery Rock: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Slippery Rock runs $11,607 less per year out of state; Slippery Rock graduates 18 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 Mercy if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Mercy is $5,363 lower than at Slippery Rock.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Mercy admits 86% of applicants.
Lean Slippery Rock if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Slippery Rock lists $11,607 less per year in tuition and housing than Mercy.
- You would be in-state: Slippery Rock is $11,599 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Mercy.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Slippery Rock graduates 18 percentage points more of its students than Mercy.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Slippery Rock against none listed at Mercy.
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 | Mercy | Slippery Rock |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $22,106 | $10,507 — Slippery Rock leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $22,106 | $14,615 — Slippery Rock leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $14,700 | $10,584 — Slippery Rock leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $36,806 | $21,091 — Slippery Rock 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. | $36,806 | $25,199 — Slippery Rock 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 | Mercy | Slippery Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 48% | 66% — Slippery Rock leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $52,055/yr | $53,032/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,637 — Mercy leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 38% — Mercy leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 47% |
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 | Mercy | Slippery Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 86% | 71% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 8,774 | 8,350 |
| Where it is | Dobbs Ferry, NY | Slippery Rock, PA |
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 | Mercy | Slippery Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | ECC | PSAC |
| Head coach | Jaime Lorenzo | Stacey Rice |
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 | Mercy | Slippery Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | 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. 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.
Mercy
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.
Slippery Rock
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Elite Skills and Scrimmage Camp08/04/2026 · 9th Grade - College Senior · $135
Mercy vs Slippery Rock: common questions
- Is Mercy or Slippery Rock cheaper?
- On published price, Slippery Rock is cheaper — about $25,199 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $36,806 at Mercy. 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, Mercy or Slippery Rock?
- Slippery Rock, at 66% against 48% at Mercy (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Mercy and Slippery Rock 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.
- Do Mercy and Slippery Rock run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Slippery Rock and none currently listed at Mercy. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Mercy and Slippery Rock?
- 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 Mercy and Slippery Rock 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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