Dakota County Technical College vs Highland CC (IL): Softball Program Comparison

Two JUCO programs. Dakota County Technical College lists $701 less in out-of-state tuition; Dakota County Technical College graduates earn $14,010 more a decade out.

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 County Technical College if…

  • You would be in-state: Dakota County Technical College is $557 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Highland CC (IL).
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Dakota County Technical College graduates earn about $14,010 more per year a decade after enrolling.

Lean Highland CC (IL) if…

  • You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Highland CC (IL) is $2,971 lower than at Dakota County Technical College.

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: Dakota County Technical College compared with Highland CC (IL)
MeasureDakota County Technical CollegeHighland CC (IL)
In-state tuition & fees$6,419 Dakota County Technical College leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition$6,976
Out-of-state tuition & fees$6,419 Dakota County Technical College leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition$7,120

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: Dakota County Technical College compared with Highland CC (IL)
MeasureDakota County Technical CollegeHighland CC (IL)
Graduation rate45%46%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$51,938/yr Dakota County Technical College leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$37,928/yr
Median debt at graduation$11,000$8,029 Highland CC (IL) 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.21%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: Dakota County Technical College compared with Highland CC (IL)
MeasureDakota County Technical CollegeHighland CC (IL)
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.2,6621,369
Where it isRosemount, MNFreeport, IL

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: Dakota County Technical College compared with Highland CC (IL)
MeasureDakota County Technical CollegeHighland CC (IL)
ConferenceRegion 13Region 4
Head coachTom CrossMaddi Jones

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: Dakota County Technical College compared with Highland CC (IL)
MeasureDakota County Technical CollegeHighland CC (IL)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes

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.

Dakota County Technical College

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.

Highland CC (IL)

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.

Dakota County Technical College vs Highland CC (IL): common questions

Which school graduates more of its students, Dakota County Technical College or Highland CC (IL)?
Highland CC (IL), at 46% against 45% at Dakota County Technical College (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Dakota County Technical College and Highland CC (IL) 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 County Technical College and Highland CC (IL)?
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 County Technical College and Highland CC (IL) accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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