Spring Arbor vs St. Ambrose: Softball Program Comparison
Two NAIA programs. Spring Arbor runs $4,032 less per year; Spring Arbor graduates 3 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 Spring Arbor if…
- The number on the bill matters: Spring Arbor lists $4,032 less per year in tuition and housing than St. Ambrose, and neither charges by residency.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Spring Arbor graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than St. Ambrose.
- Your transcript is a strength: Spring Arbor admits 52% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean St. Ambrose if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: St. Ambrose graduates earn about $7,799 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at St. Ambrose is $1,375 lower than at Spring Arbor.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: St. Ambrose admits 77% of applicants.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board 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 | Spring Arbor | St. Ambrose |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $34,014 — Spring Arbor leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $36,658 |
| Room & board | $10,960 — Spring Arbor leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,348 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $44,974 — Spring Arbor leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $49,006 |
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 | Spring Arbor | St. Ambrose |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 64% — Spring Arbor leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 61% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $51,732/yr | $59,531/yr — St. Ambrose leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,375 | $25,000 — St. Ambrose 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. | 51% | 42% — St. Ambrose 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 | Spring Arbor | St. Ambrose |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 52% | 77% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,390 | 2,703 |
| Where it is | Spring Arbor, MI | Davenport, IA |
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 | Spring Arbor | St. Ambrose |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CROSS | CCAC |
| Head coach | Deb Thompson | John Kelly |
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 | Spring Arbor | St. Ambrose |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | 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.
Spring Arbor
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.
St. Ambrose
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.
Spring Arbor vs St. Ambrose: common questions
- Is Spring Arbor or St. Ambrose cheaper?
- On published price, Spring Arbor is cheaper — about $44,974 a year in tuition and housing, against $49,006 at St. Ambrose. 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, Spring Arbor or St. Ambrose?
- Spring Arbor, at 64% against 61% at St. Ambrose (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Spring Arbor and St. Ambrose 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 Spring Arbor and St. Ambrose?
- 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.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). 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 Spring Arbor and St. Ambrose 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.
Start free