Saint Anselm vs Saint Michael's: Softball Program Comparison

Two D2 programs in the NE10. Saint Anselm runs $3,205 less per year; Saint Anselm graduates 14 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 Saint Anselm if…

  • The number on the bill matters: Saint Anselm lists $3,205 less per year in tuition and housing than Saint Michael's, and neither charges by residency.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Saint Anselm graduates 14 percentage points more of its students than Saint Michael's.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Saint Anselm graduates earn about $12,054 more per year a decade after enrolling.

Lean Saint Michael's if…

  • On the figures we hold, Saint Michael's does not lead Saint Anselm 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.

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.

What it costs to go there: Saint Anselm compared with Saint Michael's
MeasureSaint AnselmSaint Michael's
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$46,810 Saint Anselm leads on this measure: lower published tuition$50,040
Room & board$16,520$16,495
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$63,330 Saint Anselm leads on this measure: lower total cost per year$66,535

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.

What you leave with: Saint Anselm compared with Saint Michael's
MeasureSaint AnselmSaint Michael's
Graduation rate83% Saint Anselm leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree69%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$73,371/yr Saint Anselm leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$61,317/yr
Median debt at graduation$27,000$26,922
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.37% Saint Anselm leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn44%

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Saint Anselm compared with Saint Michael's
MeasureSaint AnselmSaint Michael's
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.78%85%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.2,0781,370
Where it isManchester, NHColchester, 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.

The softball program itself: Saint Anselm compared with Saint Michael's
MeasureSaint AnselmSaint Michael's
Head coachAlyssa WilliamsonNick Goodreau

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.

How you actually get in front of them: Saint Anselm compared with Saint Michael's
MeasureSaint AnselmSaint Michael's
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

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.

How D2 softball scholarships actually work →

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.

Saint Anselm

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Saint Michael's

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Saint Anselm vs Saint Michael's: common questions

Is Saint Anselm or Saint Michael's cheaper?
On published price, Saint Anselm is cheaper — about $63,330 a year in tuition and housing, against $66,535 at Saint Michael's. 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, Saint Anselm or Saint Michael's?
Saint Anselm, at 83% against 69% at Saint Michael's (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Saint Anselm and Saint Michael's 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 Saint Anselm and Saint Michael's?
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 Saint Anselm and Saint Michael's accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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