Dakota Bottineau vs Missouri State West Plains: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Missouri State West Plains runs $1,839 less per year out of state; Dakota Bottineau graduates 18 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 Dakota Bottineau if…
- You would be in-state: Dakota Bottineau is $197 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Missouri State West Plains.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Dakota Bottineau graduates 18 percentage points more of its students than Missouri State West Plains.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Dakota Bottineau graduates earn about $3,654 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Missouri State West Plains if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Missouri State West Plains lists $1,839 less per year in tuition and housing than Dakota Bottineau.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Missouri State West Plains is $507 lower than at Dakota Bottineau.
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 | Dakota Bottineau | Missouri State West Plains |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $5,347 — Dakota Bottineau leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $5,544 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $7,613 | $7,630 |
| Room & board | $8,970 | $7,114 — Missouri State West Plains leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $14,317 | $12,658 — Missouri State West Plains leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $16,583 | $14,744 — Missouri State West Plains leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
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 | Dakota Bottineau | Missouri State West Plains |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 53% — Dakota Bottineau leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 35% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $40,576/yr — Dakota Bottineau leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $36,922/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $10,507 | $10,000 — Missouri State West Plains 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. | 26% — Dakota Bottineau 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 | Dakota Bottineau | Missouri State West Plains |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,180 | 1,726 |
| Where it is | Bottineau, ND | West Plains, MO |
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 | Dakota Bottineau | Missouri State West Plains |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Region 13 | Region 16 |
| Head coach | Jason Lindgren | Aubrie Brooks |
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 | Dakota Bottineau | Missouri State West Plains |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Dakota Bottineau
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.
Missouri State West Plains
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.
Dakota Bottineau vs Missouri State West Plains: common questions
- Is Dakota Bottineau or Missouri State West Plains cheaper?
- On published price, Missouri State West Plains is cheaper — about $14,744 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $16,583 at Dakota Bottineau. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Dakota Bottineau or Missouri State West Plains?
- Dakota Bottineau, at 53% against 35% at Missouri State West Plains (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Dakota Bottineau and Missouri State West Plains 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 Dakota Bottineau and Missouri State West Plains?
- 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 Dakota Bottineau and Missouri State West Plains 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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