Nazareth vs Russell Sage: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the Empire 8. Russell Sage runs $5,953 less per year; Nazareth graduates 7 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 Nazareth if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Nazareth graduates 7 percentage points more of its students than Russell Sage.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Nazareth admits 75% of applicants.
Lean Russell Sage if…
- The number on the bill matters: Russell Sage lists $5,953 less per year in tuition and housing than Nazareth, and neither charges by residency.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Russell Sage graduates earn about $1,858 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Russell Sage is $4,038 lower than at Nazareth.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Russell Sage against none listed at Nazareth.
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 | Nazareth | Russell Sage |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $40,880 | $36,756 — Russell Sage leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $15,620 | $13,791 — Russell Sage leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $56,500 | $50,547 — Russell Sage leads on this measure: lower total cost per year |
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 | Nazareth | Russell Sage |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 73% — Nazareth leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 66% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $56,458/yr | $58,316/yr — Russell Sage leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,038 | $22,000 — Russell Sage 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. | 46% | 38% — Russell Sage 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 | Nazareth | Russell Sage |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 75% | 53% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,439 | 2,064 |
| Where it is | Rochester, NY | Troy, 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 | Nazareth | Russell Sage |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Margaret Yerdon-Grange | Stephanie McKay |
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 | Nazareth | Russell Sage |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | 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. 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.
Nazareth
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Russell Sage
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Fall Prospect Camp09/20/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $100 - $150
Nazareth vs Russell Sage: common questions
- Is Nazareth or Russell Sage cheaper?
- On published price, Russell Sage is cheaper — about $50,547 a year in tuition and housing, against $56,500 at Nazareth. 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, Nazareth or Russell Sage?
- Nazareth, at 73% against 66% at Russell Sage (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Nazareth and Russell Sage 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.
- Do Nazareth and Russell Sage run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Russell Sage and none currently listed at Nazareth. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Nazareth and Russell Sage?
- Russell Sage runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Nazareth, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 Nazareth and Russell Sage accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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