Oklahoma Baptist vs St. Mary's: Softball Program Comparison

Two D2 programs. Oklahoma Baptist runs $4,672 less per year; St. Mary's graduates 9 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 Oklahoma Baptist if…

  • The number on the bill matters: Oklahoma Baptist lists $4,672 less per year in tuition and housing than St. Mary's, and neither charges by residency.
  • Your transcript is a strength: Oklahoma Baptist admits 49% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.

Lean St. Mary's if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: St. Mary's graduates 9 percentage points more of its students than Oklahoma Baptist.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: St. Mary's graduates earn about $8,521 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • Admissions is the part you are least sure about: St. Mary's admits 98% 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.

What it costs to go there: Oklahoma Baptist compared with St. Mary's
MeasureOklahoma BaptistSt. Mary's
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$34,050 Oklahoma Baptist leads on this measure: lower published tuition$36,242
Room & board$9,240 Oklahoma Baptist leads on this measure: lower room & board$11,720
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$43,290 Oklahoma Baptist leads on this measure: lower total cost per year$47,962

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.

What you leave with: Oklahoma Baptist compared with St. Mary's
MeasureOklahoma BaptistSt. Mary's
Graduation rate50%59% St. Mary's leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$48,434/yr$56,955/yr St. Mary's leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out
Median debt at graduation$24,801$25,563
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.51%45% St. Mary's 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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Oklahoma Baptist compared with St. Mary's
MeasureOklahoma BaptistSt. Mary's
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.49%98%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.1,5263,411
Where it isShawnee, OKSan 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.

The softball program itself: Oklahoma Baptist compared with St. Mary's
MeasureOklahoma BaptistSt. Mary's
ConferenceGACLSC
Head coachJace BrewerTaylor Lira

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.

How you actually get in front of them: Oklahoma Baptist compared with St. Mary's
MeasureOklahoma BaptistSt. Mary's
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

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.

How D2 softball scholarships actually work →

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.

Oklahoma Baptist

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

St. Mary's

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Oklahoma Baptist vs St. Mary's: common questions

Is Oklahoma Baptist or St. Mary's cheaper?
On published price, Oklahoma Baptist is cheaper — about $43,290 a year in tuition and housing, against $47,962 at St. Mary's. 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, Oklahoma Baptist or St. Mary's?
St. Mary's, at 59% against 50% at Oklahoma Baptist (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Oklahoma Baptist and St. Mary's 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.
How do I contact the coaches at Oklahoma Baptist and St. Mary's?
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 Oklahoma Baptist and St. Mary's 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

Other comparisons worth making