Ellsworth Community College vs Pratt Community College: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Pratt Community College runs $3,246 less per year out of state; Pratt Community College graduates earn $11,330 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 Ellsworth Community College if…
- On the figures we hold, Ellsworth Community College does not lead Pratt Community College on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
Lean Pratt Community College if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Pratt Community College lists $3,246 less per year in tuition and housing than Ellsworth Community College.
- You would be in-state: Pratt Community College is $1,140 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Ellsworth Community College.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Pratt Community College graduates earn about $11,330 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Pratt Community College is $3,500 lower than at Ellsworth Community 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.
| Measure | Ellsworth Community College | Pratt Community College |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $5,304 | $4,164 — Pratt Community College leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $6,312 | $4,712 — Pratt Community College leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $9,000 | $7,354 — Pratt Community College leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $14,304 | $11,518 — Pratt Community College 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. | $15,312 | $12,066 — Pratt Community College 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 | Ellsworth Community College | Pratt Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 43% | 43% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $40,562/yr | $51,892/yr — Pratt Community College leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $10,000 | $6,500 — Pratt Community College 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. | 25% | 13% — Pratt Community College leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
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 | Ellsworth Community College | Pratt Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 685 | 1,153 |
| Where it is | Iowa Falls, IA | Pratt, KS |
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 | Ellsworth Community College | Pratt Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | ICCAC | KJCCC |
| Head coach | Nate Forsyth | Madison Tadrus |
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 | Ellsworth Community College | Pratt Community College |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Ellsworth Community College
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.
Pratt Community College
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.
Ellsworth Community College vs Pratt Community College: common questions
- Is Ellsworth Community College or Pratt Community College cheaper?
- On published price, Pratt Community College is cheaper — about $12,066 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $15,312 at Ellsworth Community College. 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, Ellsworth Community College or Pratt Community College?
- Both report a 43% graduation rate (IPEDS, 2023-24).
- Do Ellsworth Community College and Pratt Community College 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 Ellsworth Community College and Pratt Community College?
- 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 Ellsworth Community College and Pratt Community College 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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