Salem vs William Peace: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the USA South. Salem graduates 12 points more of its students; William Peace graduates earn $2,003 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 Salem if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Salem graduates 12 percentage points more of its students than William Peace.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 5 camps at Salem against 1 at William Peace.
- Your transcript is a strength: Salem admits 77% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean William Peace if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: William Peace graduates earn about $2,003 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at William Peace is $4,399 lower than at Salem.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: William Peace admits 94% 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 | Salem | William Peace |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $32,236 | $33,150 |
| Room & board | $13,056 | $12,198 — William Peace leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $45,292 | $45,348 |
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 | Salem | William Peace |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 56% — Salem leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 44% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $44,640/yr | $46,643/yr — William Peace leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,649 | $22,250 — William Peace 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. | 60% | 48% — William Peace 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 | Salem | William Peace |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 77% | 94% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 519 | 730 |
| Where it is | Winston-Salem, NC | Raleigh, NC |
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 | Salem | William Peace |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Ryan Carriker | Lauren Conway |
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 | Salem | William Peace |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 5 listed (5 with dates) | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| 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. 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.
Salem
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- July Prospect Camp07/22/2026 · $138 ($125 + $13 Fees) · REGISTER
- August Prospect Camp08/14/2026 · $138 ($125 + $13 Fees) · REGISTER
- September Prospect Camp09/26/2026 · $138 ($125 + $13 Fees) · REGISTER
- October Prospect Camp10/24/2026 · $138 ($125 + $13 Fees) · REGISTER
William Peace
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Lauren Conway Softball ID Camp12/05/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $150
Salem vs William Peace: common questions
- Is Salem or William Peace cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $45,292 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, Salem or William Peace?
- Salem, at 56% against 44% at William Peace (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Salem and William Peace 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.
- Do Salem and William Peace run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 5 at Salem and 1 at William Peace. 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 Salem and William Peace?
- 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 Salem and William Peace 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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