Penn State vs Syracuse: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Penn State runs $28,287 less per year out of state; Penn State graduates 5 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 Penn State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Penn State lists $28,287 less per year in tuition and housing than Syracuse.
- You would be in-state: Penn State is $42,827 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Syracuse.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Penn State graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than Syracuse.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Penn State is $1,000 lower than at Syracuse.
Lean Syracuse if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Syracuse graduates earn about $15,729 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 4 camps at Syracuse against none listed at Penn State.
- Your transcript is a strength: Syracuse admits 46% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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 | Penn State | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $20,234 — Penn State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $63,061 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $40,188 — Penn State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $63,061 |
| Room & board | $13,030 — Penn State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $18,444 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $33,264 — Penn State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $81,505 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $53,218 — Penn State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $81,505 |
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 | Penn State | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 86% — Penn State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 81% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $63,435/yr | $79,164/yr — Syracuse leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 — Penn State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $26,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 39% | 33% — Syracuse 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.
| Measure | Penn State | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 61% | 46% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 50,399 | 22,948 |
| Where it is | University Park, PA | Syracuse, NY |
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 | Penn State | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Big Ten | ACC |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 1 of the last 6 tournaments | None since 2021 |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Strong | Solid |
| Head coach | Clarisa Crowell | Shannon Doepking |
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 | Penn State | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 4 listed |
| 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.
Penn State
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.
Penn State vs Syracuse: common questions
- Is Penn State or Syracuse cheaper?
- On published price, Penn State is cheaper — about $53,218 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $81,505 at Syracuse. 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, Penn State or Syracuse?
- Penn State, at 86% against 81% at Syracuse (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Penn State and Syracuse 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 Penn State and Syracuse run softball camps?
- We track 4 camps at Syracuse and none currently listed at Penn State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Penn State and Syracuse?
- 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 Penn State and Syracuse accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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