Vermont State Castleton vs Westfield State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the LEC. Westfield State runs $2,834 less per year out of state; Westfield State graduates 6 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 Vermont State Castleton if…
- You would be in-state: Vermont State Castleton is $482 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Westfield State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Vermont State Castleton is $7,457 lower than at Westfield State.
Lean Westfield State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Westfield State lists $2,834 less per year in tuition and housing than Vermont State Castleton.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Westfield State graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Vermont State Castleton.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Westfield State graduates earn about $7,015 more per year a decade after enrolling.
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 | Vermont State Castleton | Westfield State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $11,400 — Vermont State Castleton leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $11,882 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $21,408 | $17,962 — Westfield State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $12,898 — Vermont State Castleton leads on this measure: lower room & board | $13,510 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $24,298 — Vermont State Castleton leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $25,392 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $34,306 | $31,472 — Westfield State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
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 | Vermont State Castleton | Westfield State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 49% | 55% — Westfield State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $50,331/yr | $57,346/yr — Westfield State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 — Vermont State Castleton leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $22,457 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 30% — Vermont State Castleton leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 39% |
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 | Vermont State Castleton | Westfield State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 82% | 81% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 5,136 | 4,555 |
| Where it is | Castleton, VT | Westfield, MA |
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 | Vermont State Castleton | Westfield State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Eric Kraut | Joe Hough |
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 | Vermont State Castleton | Westfield State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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.
Vermont State Castleton
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.
Westfield State
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.
Vermont State Castleton vs Westfield State: common questions
- Is Vermont State Castleton or Westfield State cheaper?
- On published price, Westfield State is cheaper — about $31,472 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $34,306 at Vermont State Castleton. 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, Vermont State Castleton or Westfield State?
- Westfield State, at 55% against 49% at Vermont State Castleton (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Vermont State Castleton and Westfield State 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 Vermont State Castleton and Westfield State?
- 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 Vermont State Castleton and Westfield State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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