Nova Southeastern vs Saint Leo: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the SSC. Saint Leo runs $8,946 less per year; Nova Southeastern graduates 15 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 Nova Southeastern if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Nova Southeastern graduates 15 percentage points more of its students than Saint Leo.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Nova Southeastern graduates earn about $10,845 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Nova Southeastern is $1,028 lower than at Saint Leo.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Nova Southeastern against none listed at Saint Leo.
Lean Saint Leo if…
- The number on the bill matters: Saint Leo lists $8,946 less per year in tuition and housing than Nova Southeastern, and neither charges by residency.
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 | Nova Southeastern | Saint Leo |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $37,080 | $28,360 — Saint Leo leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $15,950 | $15,724 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $53,030 | $44,084 — Saint Leo 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 | Nova Southeastern | Saint Leo |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 64% — Nova Southeastern leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 49% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $59,209/yr — Nova Southeastern leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $48,364/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,250 — Nova Southeastern leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,278 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 41% — Nova Southeastern leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 52% |
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 | Nova Southeastern | Saint Leo |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 73% | 78% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 20,877 | 10,231 |
| Where it is | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Saint Leo, FL |
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 | Nova Southeastern | Saint Leo |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Julie LeMaire | Erin Kinberger |
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 | Nova Southeastern | Saint Leo |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
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.
Nova Southeastern
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
Saint Leo
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.
Nova Southeastern vs Saint Leo: common questions
- Is Nova Southeastern or Saint Leo cheaper?
- On published price, Saint Leo is cheaper — about $44,084 a year in tuition and housing, against $53,030 at Nova Southeastern. 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, Nova Southeastern or Saint Leo?
- Nova Southeastern, at 64% against 49% at Saint Leo (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Nova Southeastern and Saint Leo offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- Do Nova Southeastern and Saint Leo run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Nova Southeastern and none currently listed at Saint Leo. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Nova Southeastern and Saint Leo?
- Saint Leo runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Nova Southeastern, 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 Nova Southeastern and Saint Leo accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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