Columbia Basin vs Pierce: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the NWAC. Pierce lists $3,028 less in out-of-state tuition; Pierce 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 Columbia Basin if…
- On the figures we hold, Columbia Basin does not lead Pierce 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 Pierce if…
- You would be in-state: Pierce is $1,508 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Columbia Basin.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Pierce graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Columbia Basin.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Pierce is $2,829 lower than at Columbia Basin.
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 | Columbia Basin | Pierce |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $6,194 | $4,686 — Pierce leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $8,239 | $5,211 — Pierce leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $10,450 — Columbia Basin leads on this measure: lower room & board | $13,293 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $16,644 — Columbia Basin leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $17,979 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,689 | $18,504 |
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 | Columbia Basin | Pierce |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 28% | 31% — Pierce leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $46,680/yr | $47,532/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,829 | $12,000 — Pierce 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. | 32% | 25% — Pierce 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 | Columbia Basin | Pierce |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 6,729 | 7,427 |
| Where it is | Pasco, WA | Lakewood, 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 | Columbia Basin | Pierce |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Montessa Califano | Brent Freeman |
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 | Columbia Basin | Pierce |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Columbia Basin
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.
Pierce
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.
Columbia Basin vs Pierce: common questions
- Is Columbia Basin or Pierce cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $18,689 a year out of state in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Columbia Basin or Pierce?
- Pierce, at 31% against 28% at Columbia Basin (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Columbia Basin and Pierce 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 Columbia Basin and Pierce?
- Pierce runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Columbia Basin, 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 Columbia Basin and Pierce 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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