Saint Mary vs Warner Pacific: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Saint Mary runs $3,242 less per year; Warner Pacific graduates 23 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 Mary if…
- The number on the bill matters: Saint Mary lists $3,242 less per year in tuition and housing than Warner Pacific, and neither charges by residency.
Lean Warner Pacific if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Warner Pacific graduates 23 percentage points more of its students than Saint Mary.
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 Mary | Warner Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $23,340 | $21,010 — Warner Pacific leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $8,650 — Saint Mary leads on this measure: lower room & board | $14,222 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $31,990 — Saint Mary leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $35,232 |
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 Mary | Warner Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 59% | 82% — Warner Pacific leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | — | $55,204/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | — | $25,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | — | 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 Mary | Warner Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 71% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 733 | 350 |
| Where it is | Omaha, NE | Portland, OR |
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 Mary | Warner Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GPAC | CCC |
| Head coach | Carolyn Bray | Ashton Porter |
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 Mary | Warner Pacific |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NAIA, so the scholarship rules are identical: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic 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.
Saint Mary
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.
Warner Pacific
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.
Saint Mary vs Warner Pacific: common questions
- Is Saint Mary or Warner Pacific cheaper?
- On published price, Saint Mary is cheaper — about $31,990 a year in tuition and housing, against $35,232 at Warner Pacific. 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 Mary or Warner Pacific?
- Warner Pacific, at 82% against 59% at Saint Mary (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Saint Mary and Warner Pacific offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NAIA: 10 (equivalency). NAIA softball allows 10 scholarship equivalencies, and coaches have flexibility in how they divide them. Most awards are partial, frequently stacked with academic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Saint Mary and Warner Pacific?
- 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 Mary and Warner Pacific 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.
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