Dodge City Community vs Lake Region State: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Dodge City Community runs $927 less per year out of state; Lake Region State graduates 20 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 Dodge City Community if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Dodge City Community lists $927 less per year in tuition and housing than Lake Region State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Dodge City Community is $1,493 lower than at Lake Region State.
Lean Lake Region State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Lake Region State graduates 20 percentage points more of its students than Dodge City Community.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Lake Region State graduates earn about $4,075 more per year a decade after enrolling.
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 | Dodge City Community | Lake Region State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $5,550 | $5,478 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $5,850 | $5,478 — Lake Region State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $7,850 — Dodge City Community leads on this measure: lower room & board | $9,149 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $13,400 — Dodge City Community leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $14,627 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $13,700 — Dodge City Community leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $14,627 |
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 | Dodge City Community | Lake Region State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 31% | 51% — Lake Region State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $45,427/yr | $49,502/yr — Lake Region State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $8,800 — Dodge City Community leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $10,293 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 19% — Dodge City Community leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 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.
| Measure | Dodge City Community | Lake Region State |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,757 | 1,810 |
| Where it is | Dodge City, KS | Devils Lake, ND |
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 | Dodge City Community | Lake Region State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | KJCCC | Region 13 |
| Head coach | Mike Viramontez | Kory Boehmer |
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 | Dodge City Community | Lake Region State |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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.
Dodge City 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.
Lake Region State
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.
Dodge City Community vs Lake Region State: common questions
- Is Dodge City Community or Lake Region State cheaper?
- On published price, Dodge City Community is cheaper — about $13,700 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $14,627 at Lake Region State. 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, Dodge City Community or Lake Region State?
- Lake Region State, at 51% against 31% at Dodge City Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Dodge City Community and Lake Region State 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 Dodge City Community and Lake Region State?
- Lake Region State runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Dodge City 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 Dodge City Community and Lake Region State 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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