Chattanooga State Community vs Volunteer State Community: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the TCCAA. Volunteer State Community graduates 2 points more of its students; Volunteer State Community graduates earn $3,552 more a decade out.
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 Chattanooga State Community if…
- On the figures we hold, Chattanooga State Community does not lead Volunteer State Community on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
Lean Volunteer State Community if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Volunteer State Community graduates 2 percentage points more of its students than Chattanooga State Community.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Volunteer State Community graduates earn about $3,552 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Volunteer State Community is $2,869 lower than at Chattanooga State 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 | Chattanooga State Community | Volunteer State Community |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $4,550 | $4,524 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $17,750 | $17,724 |
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 | Chattanooga State Community | Volunteer State Community |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 22% | 24% — Volunteer State Community leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $37,598/yr | $41,150/yr — Volunteer State Community leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $10,419 | $7,550 — Volunteer State Community 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. | 28% | 18% — Volunteer State Community 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 | Chattanooga State Community | Volunteer State Community |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 6,601 | 6,605 |
| Where it is | Chattanooga, TN | Gallatin, TN |
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 | Chattanooga State Community | Volunteer State Community |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Blythe Golden | Christian Lynn |
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 | Chattanooga State Community | Volunteer State Community |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Chattanooga State 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.
Volunteer State 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.
Chattanooga State Community vs Volunteer State Community: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Chattanooga State Community or Volunteer State Community?
- Volunteer State Community, at 24% against 22% at Chattanooga State Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Chattanooga State Community and Volunteer State Community 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 Chattanooga State Community and Volunteer State Community?
- 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 Chattanooga State Community and Volunteer State Community 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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