Queens vs Western Washington: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Queens runs $10,816 less per year out of state; Western Washington graduates 6 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 Queens if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Queens lists $10,816 less per year in tuition and housing than Western Washington.
- You would be in-state: Queens is $1,748 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Western Washington.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Queens is $8,202 lower than at Western Washington.
- Your transcript is a strength: Queens admits 64% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Western Washington if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Western Washington graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Queens.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Western Washington admits 93% 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 | Queens | Western Washington |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $7,538 — Queens leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $9,286 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $15,488 — Queens leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $27,853 |
| Room & board | $16,464 | $14,915 — Western Washington leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $24,002 | $24,201 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $31,952 — Queens leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $42,768 |
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 | Queens | Western Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% | 66% — Western Washington leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $62,763/yr | $62,569/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $10,298 — Queens leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $18,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 16% — Queens 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 | Queens | Western Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 64% | 93% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 16,481 | 14,651 |
| Where it is | Queens, NY | Bellingham, WA |
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 | Queens | Western Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | ECC | GNAC |
| Head coach | Amy Delmore | Sheryl Gilmore |
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 | Queens | Western Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
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.
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.
Queens
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.
Western Washington
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Queens vs Western Washington: common questions
- Is Queens or Western Washington cheaper?
- On published price, Queens is cheaper — about $31,952 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $42,768 at Western Washington. 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, Queens or Western Washington?
- Western Washington, at 66% against 60% at Queens (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Queens and Western Washington 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 Queens and Western Washington?
- Queens runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Western Washington, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 Queens and Western Washington accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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