Nelson vs Our Lady of the Lake: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Nelson runs $14,774 less per year; Our Lady of the Lake graduates 6 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 Nelson if…
- The number on the bill matters: Nelson lists $14,774 less per year in tuition and housing than Our Lady of the Lake, and neither charges by residency.
Lean Our Lady of the Lake if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Our Lady of the Lake graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Nelson.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Our Lady of the Lake graduates earn about $2,437 more per year a decade after enrolling.
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 | Nelson | Our Lady of the Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $18,610 — Nelson leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $31,728 |
| Room & board | $9,050 — Nelson leads on this measure: lower room & board | $10,706 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $27,660 — Nelson leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $42,434 |
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 | Nelson | Our Lady of the Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 36% | 42% — Our Lady of the Lake leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $46,238/yr | $48,675/yr — Our Lady of the Lake leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,725 | $24,999 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 53% | 51% — Our Lady of the Lake 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 | Nelson | Our Lady of the Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 89% | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,725 | 2,096 |
| Where it is | Waxahachie, TX | San Antonio, TX |
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 | Nelson | Our Lady of the Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SAC | RRAC |
| Head coach | Robert Herrera | Bruce Lenington |
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 | Nelson | Our Lady of the Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Nelson
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.
Our Lady of the Lake
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.
Nelson vs Our Lady of the Lake: common questions
- Is Nelson or Our Lady of the Lake cheaper?
- On published price, Nelson is cheaper — about $27,660 a year in tuition and housing, against $42,434 at Our Lady of the Lake. 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, Nelson or Our Lady of the Lake?
- Our Lady of the Lake, at 42% against 36% at Nelson (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Nelson and Our Lady of the Lake 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Nelson and Our Lady of the Lake?
- 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 Nelson and Our Lady of the Lake 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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