the Pacific vs Saint Mary's: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs in the WCC. The tables below cover cost, academics and program record for both.
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 the Pacific if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at the Pacific is $4,191 lower than at Saint Mary's.
- Your transcript is a strength: the Pacific admits 71% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Saint Mary's if…
- You want to play in June: Saint Mary's has reached 2 more NCAA tournaments than the Pacific since 2021.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 4 camps at Saint Mary's against none listed at the Pacific.
- You want the stronger program on paper: Saint Mary's rates strong against solid at the Pacific.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Saint Mary's admits 87% 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 | the Pacific | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $55,340 | $56,134 |
| Room & board | $16,688 | $16,900 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $72,028 | $73,034 |
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 | the Pacific | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 68% | 69% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $78,445/yr | $78,812/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 — the Pacific leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $23,691 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 25% — the Pacific leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 30% |
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 | the Pacific | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 71% | 87% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 6,755 | 2,775 |
| Where it is | Stockton, CA | Moraga, 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 | the Pacific | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | 2 of the last 6 tournaments |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Solid | Strong |
| Head coach | Sam Duran-Kukuk | Sonja Garnett |
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 | the Pacific | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 4 listed (4 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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.
the Pacific
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.
Saint Mary's
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Elite ID Camp08/15/2026 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $215
- Elite ID Camp09/19/2026 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $215
- Elite ID Camp12/05/2026 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $215
- Elite ID Camp01/16/2027 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $215
the Pacific vs Saint Mary's: common questions
- Is the Pacific or Saint Mary's cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $72,028 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, the Pacific or Saint Mary's?
- Saint Mary's, at 69% against 68% at the Pacific (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do the Pacific and Saint Mary's 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.
- Do the Pacific and Saint Mary's run softball camps?
- We track 4 camps at Saint Mary's and none currently listed at the Pacific. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at the Pacific and Saint 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 the Pacific and Saint 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.
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