Occidental vs Redlands: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the SCIAC. Redlands runs $6,492 less per year; Occidental graduates 14 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 Occidental if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Occidental graduates 14 percentage points more of its students than Redlands.
Lean Redlands if…
- The number on the bill matters: Redlands lists $6,492 less per year in tuition and housing than Occidental, 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 | Occidental | Redlands |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $63,446 | $57,614 — Redlands leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $18,284 | $17,624 — Redlands leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $81,730 | $75,238 — Redlands 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 | Occidental | Redlands |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 85% — Occidental leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 71% |
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 | Occidental | Redlands |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,854 | 3,192 |
| Where it is | Los Angeles, CA | Redlands, CA |
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 | Occidental | Redlands |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Chris Hipa | Jose Ortega |
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 | Occidental | Redlands |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
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.
Occidental
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Elite Prospect Softball Clinic09/12/2026 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $60 - $80
Redlands
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Fall Prospect Camp09/12/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $120
Occidental vs Redlands: common questions
- Is Occidental or Redlands cheaper?
- On published price, Redlands is cheaper — about $75,238 a year in tuition and housing, against $81,730 at Occidental. 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, Occidental or Redlands?
- Occidental, at 85% against 71% at Redlands (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Occidental and Redlands 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 Occidental and Redlands run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 1 at Occidental and 1 at Redlands. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
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 Occidental and Redlands 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.
Start free