Notre Dame of Maryland vs Thomas: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Thomas runs $10,671 less per year; Notre Dame of Maryland graduates earn $20,353 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 Notre Dame of Maryland if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Notre Dame of Maryland graduates earn about $20,353 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Notre Dame of Maryland is $1,584 lower than at Thomas.
- Your transcript is a strength: Notre Dame of Maryland admits 82% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Thomas if…
- The number on the bill matters: Thomas lists $10,671 less per year in tuition and housing than Notre Dame of Maryland, and neither charges by residency.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Thomas admits 96% 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 | Notre Dame of Maryland | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $41,910 | $30,896 — Thomas leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $13,335 | $13,678 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $55,245 | $44,574 — Thomas 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 | Notre Dame of Maryland | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 52% | 51% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $65,344/yr — Notre Dame of Maryland leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $44,991/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,666 — Notre Dame of Maryland leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $24,250 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 35% — Notre Dame of Maryland leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 54% |
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 | Notre Dame of Maryland | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 82% | 96% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,836 | 1,669 |
| Where it is | Baltimore, MD | Waterville, ME |
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 | Notre Dame of Maryland | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | United East | NAC |
| Head coach | Billy Wilkens | Jennifer Plourde |
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 | Notre Dame of Maryland | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | 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.
Notre Dame of Maryland
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.
Thomas
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.
Notre Dame of Maryland vs Thomas: common questions
- Is Notre Dame of Maryland or Thomas cheaper?
- On published price, Thomas is cheaper — about $44,574 a year in tuition and housing, against $55,245 at Notre Dame of Maryland. 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, Notre Dame of Maryland or Thomas?
- Notre Dame of Maryland, at 52% against 51% at Thomas (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Notre Dame of Maryland and Thomas 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 Notre Dame of Maryland and Thomas?
- 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 Notre Dame of Maryland and Thomas accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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