San Diego vs Saint Mary's: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs in the WCC. San Diego graduates 13 points more of its students; San Diego graduates earn $7,710 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 San Diego if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: San Diego graduates 13 percentage points more of its students than Saint Mary's.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: San Diego graduates earn about $7,710 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at San Diego is $751 lower than at Saint Mary's.
- Your transcript is a strength: San Diego admits 52% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Saint Mary's if…
- You want to play in June: Saint Mary's has reached 2 more NCAA tournaments than San Diego since 2021.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 4 camps at Saint Mary's against none listed at San Diego.
- You want the stronger program on paper: Saint Mary's rates strong against solid at San Diego.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Saint Mary's admits 87% 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 | San Diego | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $56,444 | $56,134 |
| Room & board | $18,084 | $16,900 — Saint Mary's leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $74,528 | $73,034 |
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 | San Diego | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 82% — San Diego leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 69% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $86,522/yr — San Diego leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $78,812/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,940 — San Diego leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $23,691 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 27% — San Diego leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 30% |
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 | San Diego | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 52% | 87% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 9,110 | 2,775 |
| Where it is | San Diego, CA | Moraga, CA |
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 | San Diego | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | 2 of the last 6 tournaments |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Solid | Strong |
| Head coach | MJ Knighten | Sonja Garnett |
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 | San Diego | Saint Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 4 listed (4 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.
San Diego
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
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Elite ID Camp08/15/2026 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $215
- Elite ID Camp09/19/2026 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $215
- Elite ID Camp12/05/2026 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $215
- Elite ID Camp01/16/2027 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $215
San Diego vs Saint Mary's: common questions
- Is San Diego or Saint Mary's cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $74,528 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, San Diego or Saint Mary's?
- San Diego, at 82% against 69% at Saint Mary's (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do San Diego and Saint Mary's 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 San Diego and Saint Mary's run softball camps?
- We track 4 camps at Saint Mary's and none currently listed at San Diego. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at San Diego and Saint Mary's?
- 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 San Diego and Saint Mary's accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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