Montclair State vs TCNJ: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the NJAC. TCNJ graduates 21 points more of its students; TCNJ graduates earn $11,908 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 Montclair State if…
- You would be in-state: Montclair State is $3,919 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than TCNJ.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Montclair State is $1,250 lower than at TCNJ.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Montclair State admits 88% of applicants.
Lean TCNJ if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: TCNJ graduates 21 percentage points more of its students than Montclair State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: TCNJ graduates earn about $11,908 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Your transcript is a strength: TCNJ admits 62% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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 | Montclair State | TCNJ |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $14,766 — Montclair State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $18,685 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $24,126 | $24,568 |
| Room & board | $16,822 | $15,569 — TCNJ leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $31,588 — Montclair State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $34,254 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $40,948 | $40,137 |
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 | Montclair State | TCNJ |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 64% | 85% — TCNJ leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $61,415/yr | $73,323/yr — TCNJ leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,000 — Montclair State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $23,250 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 36% | 32% — TCNJ 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 | Montclair State | TCNJ |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 88% | 62% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 22,570 | 7,652 |
| Where it is | Montclair, NJ | Ewing, NJ |
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 | Montclair State | TCNJ |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Nicole Degenhardt | Sally Miller |
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 | Montclair State | TCNJ |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
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.
Montclair State
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.
TCNJ
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.
Montclair State vs TCNJ: common questions
- Is Montclair State or TCNJ cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $40,948 a year out of state 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, Montclair State or TCNJ?
- TCNJ, at 85% against 64% at Montclair State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Montclair State and TCNJ offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- How do I contact the coaches at Montclair State and TCNJ?
- 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 Montclair State and TCNJ accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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