Cuyahoga Community vs Des Moines Area Community: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Cuyahoga Community lists $2,364 less in out-of-state tuition; Des Moines Area Community graduates 5 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 Cuyahoga Community if…
- You would be in-state: Cuyahoga Community is $928 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Des Moines Area Community.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Cuyahoga Community is $2,850 lower than at Des Moines Area Community.
Lean Des Moines Area Community if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Des Moines Area Community graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than Cuyahoga Community.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Des Moines Area Community graduates earn about $5,364 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 6 camps at Des Moines Area Community against none listed at Cuyahoga 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 | Cuyahoga Community | Des Moines Area Community |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $4,622 — Cuyahoga Community leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $5,550 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $8,736 — Cuyahoga Community leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $11,100 |
| Room & board | — | $8,190 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | — | $13,740 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | — | $19,290 |
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 | Cuyahoga Community | Des Moines Area Community |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 29% | 34% — Des Moines Area Community leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $35,654/yr | $41,018/yr — Des Moines Area Community leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $8,150 — Cuyahoga Community leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $11,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 23% — Cuyahoga Community leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 27% |
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 | Cuyahoga Community | Des Moines Area Community |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 17,407 | 24,418 |
| Where it is | Cleveland, OH | Ankeny, IA |
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 | Cuyahoga Community | Des Moines Area Community |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MCCAA | ICCAC |
| Head coach | Bryan Komlos | Bob Ligouri |
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 | Cuyahoga Community | Des Moines Area Community |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 6 listed (6 with dates) |
| 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. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
Cuyahoga Community
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.
Des Moines Area Community
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Slap Hitting Camp11/01/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $90
- Elite Hitting Camp11/08/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $90
- Team Defense Camp11/15/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $260
- Pitching/Catching Clinic12/06/2026 · 7th Grade - 12th Grade · $90
Cuyahoga Community vs Des Moines Area Community: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Cuyahoga Community or Des Moines Area Community?
- Des Moines Area Community, at 34% against 29% at Cuyahoga Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Cuyahoga Community and Des Moines Area 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.
- Do Cuyahoga Community and Des Moines Area Community run softball camps?
- We track 6 camps at Des Moines Area Community and none currently listed at Cuyahoga Community. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Cuyahoga Community and Des Moines Area Community?
- Des Moines Area Community runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Cuyahoga Community, 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 Cuyahoga Community and Des Moines Area 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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