Rhode Island vs Vermont State Castleton: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the LEC. Vermont State Castleton runs $5,932 less per year out of state; Vermont State Castleton graduates 3 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 Rhode Island if…
- You would be in-state: Rhode Island is $414 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Vermont State Castleton.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Rhode Island graduates earn about $5,987 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Rhode Island admits 92% of applicants.
Lean Vermont State Castleton if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Vermont State Castleton lists $5,932 less per year in tuition and housing than Rhode Island.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Vermont State Castleton graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Rhode Island.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Vermont State Castleton is $5,500 lower than at Rhode Island.
- Your transcript is a strength: Vermont State Castleton admits 82% 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 | Rhode Island | Vermont State Castleton |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $10,986 — Rhode Island leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $11,400 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $26,519 | $21,408 — Vermont State Castleton leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $13,719 | $12,898 — Vermont State Castleton leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $24,705 | $24,298 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $40,238 | $34,306 — Vermont State Castleton 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 | Rhode Island | Vermont State Castleton |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 46% | 49% — Vermont State Castleton leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $56,318/yr — Rhode Island leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $50,331/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 | $15,000 — Vermont State Castleton leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 36% | 30% — Vermont State Castleton 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 | Rhode Island | Vermont State Castleton |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 92% | 82% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 5,767 | 5,136 |
| Where it is | Providence, RI | Castleton, VT |
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 | Rhode Island | Vermont State Castleton |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Lauren Hatfield | Eric Kraut |
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 | Rhode Island | Vermont State Castleton |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | 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.
Rhode Island
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.
Vermont State Castleton
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.
Rhode Island vs Vermont State Castleton: common questions
- Is Rhode Island or Vermont State Castleton cheaper?
- On published price, Vermont State Castleton is cheaper — about $34,306 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $40,238 at Rhode Island. 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, Rhode Island or Vermont State Castleton?
- Vermont State Castleton, at 49% against 46% at Rhode Island (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Rhode Island and Vermont State Castleton 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 Rhode Island and Vermont State Castleton?
- Vermont State Castleton runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island and Vermont State Castleton accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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