Arkansas Rich Mountain vs Marion Military: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Arkansas Rich Mountain runs $7,154 less per year out of state; Arkansas Rich Mountain graduates 29 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 Arkansas Rich Mountain if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Arkansas Rich Mountain lists $7,154 less per year in tuition and housing than Marion Military.
- You would be in-state: Arkansas Rich Mountain is $5,674 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Marion Military.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Arkansas Rich Mountain graduates 29 percentage points more of its students than Marion Military.
- Your transcript is a strength: Arkansas Rich Mountain admits 74% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
Lean Marion Military if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Marion Military is $12,250 lower than at Arkansas Rich Mountain.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Marion Military admits 97% 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 | Arkansas Rich Mountain | Marion Military |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $3,864 — Arkansas Rich Mountain leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $9,538 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $4,104 — Arkansas Rich Mountain leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $15,538 |
| Room & board | $9,230 | $4,950 — Marion Military leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $13,094 — Arkansas Rich Mountain leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $14,488 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $13,334 — Arkansas Rich Mountain leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $20,488 |
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 | Arkansas Rich Mountain | Marion Military |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% — Arkansas Rich Mountain leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 31% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $58,191/yr | $59,644/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 | $9,250 — Marion Military 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. | 37% | 16% — Marion Military 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 | Arkansas Rich Mountain | Marion Military |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 74% | 97% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 719 | 308 |
| Where it is | Mena, AR | Marion, AL |
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 | Arkansas Rich Mountain | Marion Military |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | OCAC | ACCC |
| Head coach | Tracy Nealy | Jeff Benson |
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 | Arkansas Rich Mountain | Marion Military |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges), so the scholarship rules are identical: varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic 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.
Arkansas Rich Mountain
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.
Marion Military
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.
Arkansas Rich Mountain vs Marion Military: common questions
- Is Arkansas Rich Mountain or Marion Military cheaper?
- On published price, Arkansas Rich Mountain is cheaper — about $13,334 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $20,488 at Marion Military. 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, Arkansas Rich Mountain or Marion Military?
- Arkansas Rich Mountain, at 60% against 31% at Marion Military (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Arkansas Rich Mountain and Marion Military offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges): varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Arkansas Rich Mountain and Marion Military?
- 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 Arkansas Rich Mountain and Marion Military accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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