Notre Dame vs Saint Louis: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Saint Louis runs $12,257 less per year; Notre Dame graduates 17 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 Notre Dame if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Notre Dame graduates 17 percentage points more of its students than Saint Louis.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Notre Dame graduates earn about $29,197 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Notre Dame is $6,000 lower than at Saint Louis.
- You want to play in June: Notre Dame has reached 2 more NCAA tournaments than Saint Louis since 2021.
Lean Saint Louis if…
- The number on the bill matters: Saint Louis lists $12,257 less per year in tuition and housing than Notre Dame, and neither charges by residency.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Saint Louis against none listed at Notre Dame.
- You want the more realistic path to a roster spot: Saint Louis rates competitive to recruit against very competitive at Notre Dame.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Saint Louis admits 75% 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 | Saint Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $62,693 | $53,244 — Saint Louis leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $17,378 | $14,570 — Saint Louis leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $80,071 | $67,814 — Saint Louis 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 | Saint Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 97% — Notre Dame leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 80% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $99,980/yr — Notre Dame leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $70,783/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,000 — Notre Dame leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 19% — Notre Dame leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 35% |
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 | Saint Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 11% | 75% |
| U.S. News rankU.S. News Best Colleges 2026. Only ranked institutions appear. | #18 | — |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 13,174 | 17,202 |
| Where it is | Notre Dame, IN | Saint Louis, MO |
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 | Saint Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | ACC | Atlantic 10 |
| Conference level | Power Conference | Mid-Major |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 3 of the last 6 tournaments | 1 of the last 6 tournaments |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Strong | Solid |
| Recruiting difficultyHow hard it typically is to earn a roster spot here. | Very Competitive | Competitive |
| Head coach | Kris Ganeff | Christy Connoyer |
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 | Saint Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 2 listed |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
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.
Notre Dame
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 vs Saint Louis: common questions
- Is Notre Dame or Saint Louis cheaper?
- On published price, Saint Louis is cheaper — about $67,814 a year in tuition and housing, against $80,071 at Notre Dame. 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 or Saint Louis?
- Notre Dame, at 97% against 80% at Saint Louis (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Notre Dame and Saint Louis offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
- Which is harder to get recruited by?
- Notre Dame rates very competitive against competitive at Saint Louis. This is an elite D1 program. Recruits typically have extensive travel ball experience, strong academics, and begin the recruiting process early.
- Do Notre Dame and Saint Louis run softball camps?
- We track 2 camps at Saint Louis and none currently listed at Notre Dame. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Notre Dame and Saint Louis?
- 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 and Saint Louis accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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