Miles vs Salem: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Salem lists $1,414 less in tuition; Salem graduates 4 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 Miles if…
- On the figures we hold, Miles does not lead Salem on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
Lean Salem if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Salem graduates 4 percentage points more of its students than Miles.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Salem graduates earn about $2,015 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Salem is $6,523 lower than at Miles.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board 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 | Miles | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $13,314 | $11,900 — Salem leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $7,348 — Miles leads on this measure: lower room & board | $8,400 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $20,662 | $20,300 |
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 | Miles | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 16% | 20% — Salem leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $32,627/yr | $34,642/yr — Salem leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $31,217 | $24,694 — Salem 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. | 96% | 71% — Salem 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 | Miles | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,151 | 894 |
| Where it is | Fairfield, AL | Salem, WV |
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 | Miles | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SIAC | D2 Independent |
| Head coach | Patrick Peasant | Steve Potts |
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 | Miles | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Miles
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.
Salem
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.
Miles vs Salem: common questions
- Is Miles or Salem cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $20,662 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, Miles or Salem?
- Salem, at 20% against 16% at Miles (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Miles and Salem 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 Miles and Salem?
- 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.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). 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 Miles and Salem 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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