San Jose State vs Utah: Softball Program Comparison

Two D1 programs. San Jose State runs $2,497 less per year out of state; San Jose State graduates earn $11,818 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 Jose State if…

  • You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: San Jose State lists $2,497 less per year in tuition and housing than Utah.
  • You would be in-state: San Jose State is $1,323 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Utah.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: San Jose State graduates earn about $11,818 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at San Jose State is $4,000 lower than at Utah.

Lean Utah if…

  • You want to play in June: Utah has reached 2 more NCAA tournaments than San Jose State since 2021.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Utah against none listed at San Jose State.
  • You want the stronger program on paper: Utah rates strong against solid at San Jose State.

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.

What it costs to go there: San Jose State compared with Utah
MeasureSan Jose StateUtah
In-state tuition & fees$7,992 San Jose State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition$9,315
Out-of-state tuition & fees$19,872 San Jose State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition$29,837
Room & board$19,866$12,398 Utah leads on this measure: lower room & board
Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$27,858$21,713 Utah leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost
Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$39,738 San Jose State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost$42,235

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.

What you leave with: San Jose State compared with Utah
MeasureSan Jose StateUtah
Graduation rate65%64%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$78,988/yr San Jose State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$67,170/yr
Median debt at graduation$15,000 San Jose State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door$19,000
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.19% San Jose State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn28%

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: San Jose State compared with Utah
MeasureSan Jose StateUtah
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.85%86%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.36,06235,260
Where it isSan Jose, CASalt Lake City, UT

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.

The softball program itself: San Jose State compared with Utah
MeasureSan Jose StateUtah
ConferenceMountain WestBig 12
Conference levelHigh MajorPower Conference
NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only.None since 20212 of the last 6 tournaments (1 WCWS)
Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability.SolidStrong
Recruiting difficultyHow hard it typically is to earn a roster spot here.CompetitiveVery Competitive
Head coachTammy LohmannAmy Hogue

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.

How you actually get in front of them: San Jose State compared with Utah
MeasureSan Jose StateUtah
Camps we track2 listed (2 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

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.

How D1 softball scholarships actually work →

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 Jose State

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Utah

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

San Jose State vs Utah: common questions

Is San Jose State or Utah cheaper?
On published price, San Jose State is cheaper — about $39,738 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $42,235 at Utah. 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, San Jose State or Utah?
San Jose State, at 65% against 64% at Utah (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do San Jose State and Utah 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.
Which is harder to get recruited by?
Utah rates very competitive against competitive at San Jose State. This is an elite D1 program. Recruits typically have extensive travel ball experience, strong academics, and begin the recruiting process early.
Do San Jose State and Utah run softball camps?
We track 2 camps at Utah and none currently listed at San Jose State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at San Jose State and Utah?
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 Jose State and Utah accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

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