Des Moines Area Community vs Kirkwood Community: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the ICCAC. Kirkwood Community lists $3,132 less in out-of-state tuition; Kirkwood Community graduates 6 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 Des Moines Area Community if…
- You would be in-state: Des Moines Area Community is $430 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Kirkwood Community.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Des Moines Area Community is $1,000 lower than at Kirkwood Community.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 6 camps at Des Moines Area Community against none listed at Kirkwood Community.
Lean Kirkwood Community if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Kirkwood Community graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Des Moines Area 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 | Des Moines Area Community | Kirkwood Community |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $5,550 — Des Moines Area Community leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $5,980 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $11,100 | $7,968 — Kirkwood Community leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| 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 | Des Moines Area Community | Kirkwood Community |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 34% | 40% — Kirkwood Community leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $41,018/yr | $41,016/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,000 — Des Moines Area Community leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $12,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 27% — Des Moines Area Community leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 29% |
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 | Des Moines Area Community | Kirkwood Community |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 24,418 | 12,660 |
| Where it is | Ankeny, IA | Cedar Rapids, 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 | Des Moines Area Community | Kirkwood Community |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Bob Ligouri | Eric Frese |
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 | Des Moines Area Community | Kirkwood Community |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 6 listed (6 with dates) | — |
| 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. 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.
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
Kirkwood 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.
Des Moines Area Community vs Kirkwood Community: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Des Moines Area Community or Kirkwood Community?
- Kirkwood Community, at 40% against 34% at Des Moines Area Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Des Moines Area Community and Kirkwood 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 Des Moines Area Community and Kirkwood Community run softball camps?
- We track 6 camps at Des Moines Area Community and none currently listed at Kirkwood Community. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Des Moines Area Community and Kirkwood 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 Des Moines Area Community and Kirkwood 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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