Big Bend Community vs Centralia: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the NWAC. Centralia runs $1,357 less per year out of state; Centralia graduates 9 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 Big Bend Community if…
- You would be in-state: Big Bend Community is $200 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Centralia.
Lean Centralia if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Centralia lists $1,357 less per year in tuition and housing than Big Bend Community.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Centralia graduates 9 percentage points more of its students than Big Bend Community.
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 | Big Bend Community | Centralia |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $4,909 — Big Bend Community leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $5,109 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $5,443 — Big Bend Community leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $5,643 |
| Room & board | $19,422 | $17,865 — Centralia leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $24,331 | $22,974 — Centralia 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. | $24,865 | $23,508 — Centralia 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 | Big Bend Community | Centralia |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 37% | 46% — Centralia leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $43,814/yr | $43,140/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,166 | — |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 21% | — |
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 | Big Bend Community | Centralia |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,786 | 2,335 |
| Where it is | Moses Lake, WA | Centralia, WA |
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 | Big Bend Community | Centralia |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kaitlyn Rizo | Olivia Dean |
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 | Big Bend Community | Centralia |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Big Bend Community
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.
Centralia
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.
Big Bend Community vs Centralia: common questions
- Is Big Bend Community or Centralia cheaper?
- On published price, Centralia is cheaper — about $23,508 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $24,865 at Big Bend Community. 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, Big Bend Community or Centralia?
- Centralia, at 46% against 37% at Big Bend Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Big Bend Community and Centralia 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 Big Bend Community and Centralia?
- 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 Big Bend Community and Centralia 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.
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