Central Wyoming vs Yakima Valley: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Yakima Valley runs $4,128 less per year out of state; Central Wyoming 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 Central Wyoming if…
- You would be in-state: Central Wyoming is $483 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Yakima Valley.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Central Wyoming graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Yakima Valley.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Central Wyoming is $5,605 lower than at Yakima Valley.
Lean Yakima Valley if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Yakima Valley lists $4,128 less per year in tuition and housing than Central Wyoming.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Yakima Valley graduates earn about $9,097 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 | Central Wyoming | Yakima Valley |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $4,680 — Central Wyoming leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $5,163 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $10,980 | $5,697 — Yakima Valley leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $8,208 — Central Wyoming leads on this measure: lower room & board | $9,363 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $12,888 — Central Wyoming leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $14,526 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $19,188 | $15,060 — Yakima Valley 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 | Central Wyoming | Yakima Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 40% — Central Wyoming leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 34% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $34,402/yr | $43,499/yr — Yakima Valley leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $8,361 — Central Wyoming leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $13,966 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 24% — Central Wyoming leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 32% |
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 | Central Wyoming | Yakima Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,106 | 3,523 |
| Where it is | Riverton, WY | Yakima, 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 | Central Wyoming | Yakima Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Region 9 | NWAC |
| Head coach | — | Jason Weatherley |
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 | Central Wyoming | Yakima Valley |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Central Wyoming
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.
Yakima Valley
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.
Central Wyoming vs Yakima Valley: common questions
- Is Central Wyoming or Yakima Valley cheaper?
- On published price, Yakima Valley is cheaper — about $15,060 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $19,188 at Central Wyoming. 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, Central Wyoming or Yakima Valley?
- Central Wyoming, at 40% against 34% at Yakima Valley (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Central Wyoming and Yakima Valley 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 Central Wyoming and Yakima Valley?
- Central Wyoming runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Yakima Valley, 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 Central Wyoming and Yakima Valley accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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