Saint Louis vs St. Thomas: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. St. Thomas runs $2,598 less per year; Saint Louis graduates 5 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 Louis if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Saint Louis graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than St. Thomas.
- You want to play in June: Saint Louis has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than St. Thomas since 2021.
- Your transcript is a strength: Saint Louis admits 75% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean St. Thomas if…
- The number on the bill matters: St. Thomas lists $2,598 less per year in tuition and housing than Saint Louis, and neither charges by residency.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: St. Thomas graduates earn about $2,956 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at St. Thomas is $1,750 lower than at Saint Louis.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 7 camps at St. Thomas against 1 at Saint Louis.
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 Louis | St. Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $53,244 | $52,284 |
| Room & board | $14,570 | $12,932 — St. Thomas leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $67,814 | $65,216 — St. Thomas leads on this measure: lower total cost per year |
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 Louis | St. Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 80% — Saint Louis leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 75% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $70,783/yr | $73,739/yr — St. Thomas leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 | $23,250 — St. Thomas 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. | 35% | 32% — St. Thomas 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 | Saint Louis | St. Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 75% | 85% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 17,202 | 9,121 |
| Where it is | Saint Louis, MO | Saint Paul, MN |
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 Louis | St. Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Atlantic 10 | Summit |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 1 of the last 6 tournaments | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Christy Connoyer | Jennifer Trotter |
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 Louis | St. Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed | 7 listed (7 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | — | 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.
St. Thomas
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- August Prospect Camp I08/01/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $150
- August Prospect Camp II08/22/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $250
- UST Fall Hitting & Pitching Clinics | September 8th09/08/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $50
- UST Fall Hitting & Pitching Clinics | September 15th09/15/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $50
Saint Louis vs St. Thomas: common questions
- Is Saint Louis or St. Thomas cheaper?
- On published price, St. Thomas is cheaper — about $65,216 a year in tuition and housing, against $67,814 at Saint Louis. 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 Louis or St. Thomas?
- Saint Louis, at 80% against 75% at St. Thomas (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Saint Louis and St. Thomas 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 Louis and St. Thomas run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 1 at Saint Louis and 7 at St. Thomas. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
- How do I contact the coaches at Saint Louis and St. Thomas?
- 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 Louis and St. Thomas accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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