Casper vs North Idaho: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. North Idaho runs $1,574 less per year out of state; Casper 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 Casper if…
- You would be in-state: Casper is $550 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than North Idaho.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Casper graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than North Idaho.
Lean North Idaho if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: North Idaho lists $1,574 less per year in tuition and housing than Casper.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at North Idaho is $534 lower than at Casper.
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 | Casper | North Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $4,410 — Casper leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $4,960 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $10,710 | $8,736 — North Idaho leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $7,800 — Casper leads on this measure: lower room & board | $8,200 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $12,210 — Casper leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $13,160 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,510 | $16,936 — North Idaho 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 | Casper | North Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 39% — Casper leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 36% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $40,935/yr | $40,081/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,534 | $9,000 — North Idaho 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. | 23% | 22% — North Idaho 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 | Casper | North Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,400 | 3,979 |
| Where it is | Casper, WY | Coeur d'Alene, ID |
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 | Casper | North Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Region 9 | NWAC |
| Head coach | Nate Macy | Michael Garoutte |
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 | Casper | North Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | 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.
Casper
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
North Idaho
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.
Casper vs North Idaho: common questions
- Is Casper or North Idaho cheaper?
- On published price, North Idaho is cheaper — about $16,936 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $18,510 at Casper. 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, Casper or North Idaho?
- Casper, at 39% against 36% at North Idaho (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Casper and North Idaho 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 Casper and North Idaho?
- North Idaho runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Casper, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 Casper and North Idaho 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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