Saint Francis vs St. Bonaventure: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. St. Bonaventure lists $1,570 less in tuition; Saint Francis 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 Saint Francis if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Saint Francis graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than St. Bonaventure.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Saint Francis graduates earn about $4,887 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to play in June: Saint Francis has reached 3 more NCAA tournaments than St. Bonaventure since 2021.
- You want the stronger program on paper: Saint Francis rates strong against solid at St. Bonaventure.
Lean St. Bonaventure if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at St. Bonaventure is $1,000 lower than at Saint Francis.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 7 camps at St. Bonaventure against none listed at Saint Francis.
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 | Saint Francis | St. Bonaventure |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $41,720 | $40,150 — St. Bonaventure leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $13,880 — Saint Francis leads on this measure: lower room & board | $15,000 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $55,600 | $55,150 |
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 | Saint Francis | St. Bonaventure |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 73% — Saint Francis leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 70% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $62,101/yr — Saint Francis leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $57,214/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 | $26,000 — St. Bonaventure 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. | 43% — Saint Francis leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 45% |
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 | Saint Francis | St. Bonaventure |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 77% | 82% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,835 | 2,603 |
| Where it is | Loretto, PA | Saint Bonaventure, 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 | Saint Francis | St. Bonaventure |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | NEC | Atlantic 10 |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 3 of the last 6 tournaments | None since 2021 |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Strong | Solid |
| Head coach | Bill Vasko | Camden Decker |
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 | Saint Francis | St. Bonaventure |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 7 listed (7 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
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.
Saint Francis
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.
St. Bonaventure
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Bonnies Prospect Camp | July 21st07/21/2026 · 7th - College Sophomore Grade as of Fall · $217.00
- Bonnies Prospect Camp | July 23rd07/23/2026 · 7th - College Sophomore Grade as of Fall · $217.00
- Bonnies Sunday Hitting Series | August08/02/2026 - 08/16/2026 · 6th Grade - College Sophomore · $130
- Bonnies Sunday Pitching Series | August08/02/2026 - 08/16/2026 · 6th Grade - College Sophomore · $130
Saint Francis vs St. Bonaventure: common questions
- Is Saint Francis or St. Bonaventure cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $55,600 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Saint Francis or St. Bonaventure?
- Saint Francis, at 73% against 70% at St. Bonaventure (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Saint Francis and St. Bonaventure offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
- Do Saint Francis and St. Bonaventure run softball camps?
- We track 7 camps at St. Bonaventure and none currently listed at Saint Francis. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Saint Francis and St. Bonaventure?
- 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 Francis and St. Bonaventure 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.
Start free