Penn State Behrend vs Rutgers-Newark: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Penn State Behrend runs $8,966 less per year out of state; Rutgers-Newark graduates 22 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 Behrend if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Penn State Behrend lists $8,966 less per year in tuition and housing than Rutgers-Newark.
- You would be in-state: Penn State Behrend is $642 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Rutgers-Newark.
Lean Rutgers-Newark if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Rutgers-Newark graduates 22 percentage points more of its students than Penn State Behrend.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Rutgers-Newark against none listed at Penn State Behrend.
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 Behrend | Rutgers-Newark |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $15,944 — Penn State Behrend leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $16,586 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $26,668 — Penn State Behrend leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $35,348 |
| Room & board | $14,774 | $15,060 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $30,718 | $31,646 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $41,442 — Penn State Behrend leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $50,408 |
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 Behrend | Rutgers-Newark |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 46% | 68% — Rutgers-Newark leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
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 Behrend | Rutgers-Newark |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,323 | 10,809 |
| Where it is | Erie, PA | Newark, NJ |
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 Behrend | Rutgers-Newark |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | AMCC | NJAC |
| Head coach | Ashley Gruber | Jaclyn Davis |
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 Behrend | Rutgers-Newark |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
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.
Penn State Behrend
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 Behrend vs Rutgers-Newark: common questions
- Is Penn State Behrend or Rutgers-Newark cheaper?
- On published price, Penn State Behrend is cheaper — about $41,442 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $50,408 at Rutgers-Newark. 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 Behrend or Rutgers-Newark?
- Rutgers-Newark, at 68% against 46% at Penn State Behrend (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Penn State Behrend and Rutgers-Newark 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 Penn State Behrend and Rutgers-Newark run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Rutgers-Newark and none currently listed at Penn State Behrend. 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 Behrend and Rutgers-Newark?
- 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 Behrend and Rutgers-Newark 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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