Mobile vs St. Thomas University: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Mobile runs $10,452 less per year; Mobile graduates 13 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 Mobile if…
- The number on the bill matters: Mobile lists $10,452 less per year in tuition and housing than St. Thomas University, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Mobile graduates 13 percentage points more of its students than St. Thomas University.
- Your transcript is a strength: Mobile admits 78% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean St. Thomas University if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: St. Thomas University graduates earn about $10,661 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at St. Thomas University is $7,375 lower than at Mobile.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: St. Thomas University admits 98% 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 | Mobile | St. Thomas University |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $26,120 — Mobile leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $34,770 |
| Room & board | $10,676 — Mobile leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,478 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $36,796 — Mobile leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $47,248 |
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 | Mobile | St. Thomas University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 56% — Mobile leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 43% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $43,611/yr | $54,272/yr — St. Thomas University leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,500 | $19,125 — St. Thomas University 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. | 61% | 35% — St. Thomas University 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 | Mobile | St. Thomas University |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 78% | 98% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,911 | 6,455 |
| Where it is | Mobile, AL | Miami Gardens, FL |
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 | Mobile | St. Thomas University |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SSAC | SUN |
| Head coach | Alison Sellers-Cook | JC Gutierrez |
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 | Mobile | St. Thomas University |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NAIA, so the scholarship rules are identical: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic 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.
Mobile
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- UM Showcase | December 6th | 1:00pm - 5:00pm12/06/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $125
St. Thomas University
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- STU Winter Prospect Camp12/20/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $150
Mobile vs St. Thomas University: common questions
- Is Mobile or St. Thomas University cheaper?
- On published price, Mobile is cheaper — about $36,796 a year in tuition and housing, against $47,248 at St. Thomas University. 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, Mobile or St. Thomas University?
- Mobile, at 56% against 43% at St. Thomas University (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Mobile and St. Thomas University offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NAIA: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
- Do Mobile and St. Thomas University run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 1 at Mobile and 1 at St. Thomas University. 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 Mobile and St. Thomas University?
- 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, 2023-2024). 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 Mobile and St. Thomas University 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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