Columbia State Community vs Florence-Darlington Technical: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Florence-Darlington Technical lists $11,332 less in out-of-state tuition; Columbia State Community graduates 11 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 State Community if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Columbia State Community graduates 11 percentage points more of its students than Florence-Darlington Technical.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Columbia State Community graduates earn about $7,508 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Columbia State Community is $3,750 lower than at Florence-Darlington Technical.
Lean Florence-Darlington Technical if…
- On the figures we hold, Florence-Darlington Technical does not lead Columbia 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.
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 State Community | Florence-Darlington Technical |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $4,904 | $4,900 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $18,104 | $6,772 — Florence-Darlington Technical leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
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 State Community | Florence-Darlington Technical |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 31% — Columbia State Community leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 20% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $40,256/yr — Columbia State Community leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $32,748/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $8,500 — Columbia State Community leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $12,250 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 21% — Columbia State Community leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 37% |
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 State Community | Florence-Darlington Technical |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 5,115 | 3,521 |
| Where it is | Columbia, TN | Florence, SC |
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 State Community | Florence-Darlington Technical |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | TCCAA | Region 10 |
| Head coach | Samantha King | Madison Ragan |
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 State Community | Florence-Darlington Technical |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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 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.
Florence-Darlington Technical
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 State Community vs Florence-Darlington Technical: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Columbia State Community or Florence-Darlington Technical?
- Columbia State Community, at 31% against 20% at Florence-Darlington Technical (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Columbia State Community and Florence-Darlington Technical 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 State Community and Florence-Darlington Technical?
- 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 Columbia State Community and Florence-Darlington Technical 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.
Start freeOther comparisons worth making
Columbia State Community vs Roane State Community
JUCO · TCCAA
Columbia State Community vs Southern Union State Community
JUCO · ACCC
Columbia State Community vs Motlow State Community
JUCO · TCCAA
Florence-Darlington Technical vs Jackson State Community
JUCO · TCCAA
Florence-Darlington Technical vs Shelton State Community
JUCO · ACCC
Florence-Darlington Technical vs Northeast Mississippi Community
JUCO · MACCC