Potsdam vs SUNY Old Westbury: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. SUNY Old Westbury runs $1,977 less per year out of state.
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 Potsdam if…
- On the figures we hold, Potsdam does not lead SUNY Old Westbury on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
Lean SUNY Old Westbury if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: SUNY Old Westbury lists $1,977 less per year in tuition and housing than Potsdam.
- You would be in-state: SUNY Old Westbury is $333 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Potsdam.
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 | Potsdam | SUNY Old Westbury |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,712 | $8,379 — SUNY Old Westbury leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $18,622 | $18,289 |
| Room & board | $15,084 | $13,440 — SUNY Old Westbury leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $23,796 | $21,819 — SUNY Old Westbury leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $33,706 | $31,729 — SUNY Old Westbury leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
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 | Potsdam | SUNY Old Westbury |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 48% | 47% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | — | $58,526/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | — | $14,997 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | — | 26% |
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 | Potsdam | SUNY Old Westbury |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 84% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,751 | 4,449 |
| Where it is | Potsdam, NY | Old Westbury, 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 | Potsdam | SUNY Old Westbury |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | SUNYAC | Skyline |
| Head coach | Brianna Ferchen | Tom Pennino |
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 | Potsdam | SUNY Old Westbury |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Potsdam
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.
SUNY Old Westbury
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.
Potsdam vs SUNY Old Westbury: common questions
- Is Potsdam or SUNY Old Westbury cheaper?
- On published price, SUNY Old Westbury is cheaper — about $31,729 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $33,706 at Potsdam. 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, Potsdam or SUNY Old Westbury?
- Potsdam, at 48% against 47% at SUNY Old Westbury (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Potsdam and SUNY Old Westbury 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Potsdam and SUNY Old Westbury?
- 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 Potsdam and SUNY Old Westbury 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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