UC San Diego Softball
Tritons
Big West · La Jolla, CA
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$17K
In-state tuition
Out-of-state: $51K
Up to 25
Scholarships
allowed under 2025 roster-limit rules (funding varies by program)
86%
Graduation rate
Room & board: $17K
Tuition and graduation rate: College Scorecard, released June 10, 2026. Room and board: IPEDS 2023-2024.
UC San Diego softball at a glance
Where the program sits and what a year here costs. How athletic aid works in D1.
- Conference level
- Mid-Major
- Est. in-state year, all in
- $33,956
- Est. out-of-state year, all in
- $68,156Tuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.
- Debt as a share of year-10 pay
- 18%Median debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.
- Total enrollment
- 42,376
Cost, debt and enrollment: IPEDS 2023-2024 and College Scorecard (released June 10, 2026). Conference level: CommitBound.
Program Info
- Division
- D1
- Conference
- Big West
- Location
- La Jolla, CA
- Scholarships
- Up to 25 (2025 roster rules)
Coaching Staff
Nikki Palmer
Head Coach
n•••@ucsd.eduVerified against the school's athletics site
Brittney Fernandez
Assistant Coach
b•••@ucsd.eduMegan Wachholtz
Assistant Coach
m•••@ucsd.eduShelby Thompson
Pitching Coach
s•••@ucsd.eduSomething wrong? Report a coaching change
Camps & Clinics
Team Camp | November 16th
- Date
- 11/16/2026
- Cost
- $0 - $3,000 + fees
- Age Group
- 9th Grade - 12th Grade
Grade as of Fall 2026: 9th - 12th Cost: See Prices Register
Register at official siteTravelling in? 1 night in La Jolla, CA, Nov 16–Nov 17. Check hotel prices →
From Ryzer, checked . Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.
Elite Prospect Camp | November 19th
- Date
- 11/19/2026
- Cost
- $250.00 incl. fees
- Age Group
- 9th Grade - 12th Grade
Grade as of Fall 2026: 9th - 12th Cost: $250.00 Register
Register at official siteTravelling in? 1 night in La Jolla, CA, Nov 19–Nov 20. Check hotel prices →
From Ryzer, checked . Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.
Team Camp | December 5th
- Date
- 12/05/2026
- Cost
- $0 - $3,000 + fees
- Age Group
- 9th Grade - 12th Grade
Grade as of Fall 2026: 9th - 12th Cost: See Prices Register
Register at official siteTravelling in? 1 night in La Jolla, CA, Dec 5–Dec 6. Check hotel prices →
From Ryzer, checked . Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.
Team Camp | January 24th
- Date
- 01/24/2027
- Cost
- $0 - $3,000 + fees
- Age Group
- 9th Grade - 12th Grade
Grade as of Fall 2026: 9th - 12th Cost: See Prices Register
Register at official siteTravelling in? 1 night in La Jolla, CA, Jan 24–Jan 25. Check hotel prices →
From Ryzer, checked . Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.
Camp Tips for Recruits
- Your club coach is your best resource for identifying which events are worth your money and time.
- Bring printed copies of your recruiting profile to hand to coaches after your session.
- Quality over quantity — 5 well-chosen events beats 15 random ones.
What UC San Diego Coaches Look For
Recruiting benchmarks for Mid-Major programs. Min = on the radar, Competitive = solidly in the pool, Elite = stands out.
See how your metrics compare to UC San Diego's standards.
Try CalculatorBenchmarks compiled from recruiting services. Individual programs may have different expectations based on roster needs.
Quick Fit Check
Enter your top metrics to see how you compare to UC San Diego's Mid-Major standards.
Recruiting Timeline
D1 contact rules for UC San Diego. Select your graduation year to see personalized deadlines.
Class of 2028 — currently a Junior
When Coaches Can Contact You
1 p.m. Central on September 1 of junior year — coaches can call, text, email, and DM on social media
Campus Visits
Official and unofficial visits are allowed from 1 p.m. Central on September 1 of junior year, but a dead period usually covers the first days of September (August 28–September 3 in 2026-27), so visits start once it ends. Walking a campus on your own is allowed anytime.
Offers & Commitments
No recruiting conversations, so no verbal offers, before 1 p.m. Central on September 1 of junior year; verbal offers are not binding. A school can't put an aid offer in writing until August 1 of senior year. Softball has one signing date (the second Wednesday of November of senior year) and no separate spring period; each school sets its own final deadline. (The written offer of athletics aid replaced the NLI in October 2024.)
Key Dates
- 1 p.m. Central, September 1 of junior year — calls, texts, emails and DMs open; visits follow after the early-September dead period
- August 1 of senior year — a school may put an aid offer in writing
- Second Wednesday of November, senior year — signing opens (no spring period)
Updated for 2026-27 NCAA rules
Ready to start your recruiting journey?
Create your accountUC San Diego softball roster outlook
UC San Diego carries 25 players on its 2026-2027 roster. 3 seniors and graduate students leave after this season.
- Pitchers: 0 leaving, 7 returning.0 leaving
- Catchers: 0 leaving, 4 returning.0 leaving
- Infielders: 3 leaving, 4 returning.3 leaving
- Outfielders: 0 leaving, 5 returning.0 leaving
- Utility: 0 leaving, 2 returning.0 leaving
See as a table
| Position | Leaving | Returning |
|---|---|---|
| Pitchers | 0 | 7 |
| Catchers | 0 | 4 |
| Infielders | 3 | 4 |
| Outfielders | 0 | 5 |
| Utility | 0 | 2 |
From the program's published 2026-2027 roster. “Leaving” counts seniors and graduate students; juniors who transfer or leave early are not included, and players with remaining eligibility can return.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get recruited by UC San Diego softball?
Start by filling out the UC San Diego recruiting questionnaire, then email the coaching staff directly. Attend camps and showcases where UC San Diego coaches are present. CommitBound can help you track your outreach and build recruiting habits.
Does UC San Diego offer softball scholarships?
UC San Diego is a D1 program. Up to 25 scholarships are allowed under the 2025 roster-limit rules, though funding varies by program.
When are UC San Diego softball camps?
UC San Diego has 4 camps listed. Check the camps section above for dates, costs, and registration links.
Who is the head coach at UC San Diego?
The current head coach is Nikki Palmer. Verified coach email access is available with a free CommitBound account.
Location
Recruiting Difficulty
This is a competitive D1 program. Strong travel ball and academic credentials are expected. Start reaching out to coaches early.
Graduate Outcomes
- Median earnings (10yr)
- $84,943/yr
- Median earnings (6yr)
- $65,669/yr
- Median student debt
- $15,500
- Admission rate
- 27%
Good Value — 10-year median earnings vs. four years of published tuition
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Academic Profile
- Avg. net price
- $12,470/yr
- Students on Pell Grant
- 34%
Avg. net price is the actual average cost after aid — not sticker tuition. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released June 10, 2026.
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Quick Facts
- Division
- D1
- Conference
- Big West
- State
- CA
- Camps Listed
- 4
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UC San Diego Recruiting Questionnaire
Direct link to the official questionnaire and what to have ready
UC San Diego Softball Camps
Camp dates, registration links, and how to prepare
All Recruiting Guides
Step-by-step guides for every stage of recruiting
We work hard to keep all data for UC San Diego accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Recruiting at UC San Diego?
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