Columbia State Community vs Motlow State Community: Softball Program Comparison

Two JUCO programs in the TCCAA. Columbia State Community graduates 2 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 2 percentage points more of its students than Motlow State Community.

Lean Motlow State Community if…

  • You would be in-state: Motlow State Community is $368 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Columbia 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.

What it costs to go there: Columbia State Community compared with Motlow State Community
MeasureColumbia State CommunityMotlow State Community
In-state tuition & fees$4,904$4,536 Motlow State Community leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition
Out-of-state tuition & fees$18,104$17,736

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.

What you leave with: Columbia State Community compared with Motlow State Community
MeasureColumbia State CommunityMotlow State Community
Graduation rate31% Columbia State Community leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree29%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$40,256/yr$40,397/yr
Median debt at graduation$8,500
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.21%

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Columbia State Community compared with Motlow State Community
MeasureColumbia State CommunityMotlow State Community
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.5,1156,060
Where it isColumbia, TNTullahoma, 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.

The softball program itself: Columbia State Community compared with Motlow State Community
MeasureColumbia State CommunityMotlow State Community
Head coachSamantha KingJanice Morey

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.

How you actually get in front of them: Columbia State Community compared with Motlow State Community
MeasureColumbia State CommunityMotlow State Community
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYes

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.

How JUCO softball scholarships actually work →

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 questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Motlow State Community

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps 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 Motlow State Community: common questions

Which school graduates more of its students, Columbia State Community or Motlow State Community?
Columbia State Community, at 31% against 29% at Motlow State Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Columbia State Community and Motlow 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 Columbia State Community and Motlow 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 Columbia State Community and Motlow 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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