Saint Mary-of-the-Woods vs Trinity Christian: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Trinity Christian runs $14,975 less per year; Trinity Christian graduates 12 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-of-the-Woods if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is $5,497 lower than at Trinity Christian.
- Your transcript is a strength: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods admits 72% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Trinity Christian if…
- The number on the bill matters: Trinity Christian lists $14,975 less per year in tuition and housing than Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Trinity Christian graduates 12 percentage points more of its students than Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Trinity Christian graduates earn about $11,855 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Trinity Christian admits 85% of applicants.
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-of-the-Woods | Trinity Christian |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $33,490 | $20,325 — Trinity Christian leads on this measure: lower published tuition |
| Room & board | $13,010 | $11,200 — Trinity Christian leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $46,500 | $31,525 — Trinity Christian 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 Mary-of-the-Woods | Trinity Christian |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 52% | 64% — Trinity Christian leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $43,845/yr | $55,700/yr — Trinity Christian leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,512 — Saint Mary-of-the-Woods leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $25,009 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 45% | 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-of-the-Woods | Trinity Christian |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 72% | 85% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,227 | 883 |
| Where it is | Saint Mary of the Woods, IN | Palos Heights, IL |
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-of-the-Woods | Trinity Christian |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | RSC | CCAC |
| Head coach | Gina Furrey Buhse | Abbie Madison |
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-of-the-Woods | Trinity Christian |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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-of-the-Woods
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.
Trinity Christian
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-of-the-Woods vs Trinity Christian: common questions
- Is Saint Mary-of-the-Woods or Trinity Christian cheaper?
- On published price, Trinity Christian is cheaper — about $31,525 a year in tuition and housing, against $46,500 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. 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-of-the-Woods or Trinity Christian?
- Trinity Christian, at 64% against 52% at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and Trinity Christian 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-of-the-Woods and Trinity Christian?
- 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-of-the-Woods and Trinity Christian accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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