Saint Mary's vs Southwestern: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs. Saint Mary's graduates 8 points more of its students; Saint Mary's graduates earn $2,476 more a decade out.
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's if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Saint Mary's graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than Southwestern.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Saint Mary's graduates earn about $2,476 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Saint Mary's admits 76% of applicants.
Lean Southwestern if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Southwestern is $2,000 lower than at Saint Mary's.
- Your transcript is a strength: Southwestern admits 43% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
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's | Southwestern |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $51,430 | $51,058 |
| Room & board | $13,850 | $13,628 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $65,280 | $64,686 |
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's | Southwestern |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 77% — Saint Mary's leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 69% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $59,354/yr — Saint Mary's leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $56,878/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 | $25,000 — Southwestern 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. | 45% | 44% — Southwestern 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 Mary's | Southwestern |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 76% | 43% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,518 | 1,457 |
| Where it is | Notre Dame, IN | Georgetown, TX |
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's | Southwestern |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MIAA-D3 | SCAC |
| Head coach | Jordyn Walter | Alexis Lynn |
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's | Southwestern |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
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's
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.
Southwestern
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's vs Southwestern: common questions
- Is Saint Mary's or Southwestern cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $65,280 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 Mary's or Southwestern?
- Saint Mary's, at 77% against 69% at Southwestern (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Saint Mary's and Southwestern offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- How do I contact the coaches at Saint Mary's and Southwestern?
- 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's and Southwestern 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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