Florida Gateway vs Itawamba Community College: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Itawamba Community College runs $7,902 less per year out of state; Florida Gateway graduates 12 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 Florida Gateway if…
- You would be in-state: Florida Gateway is $320 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Itawamba Community College.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Florida Gateway graduates 12 percentage points more of its students than Itawamba Community College.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Florida Gateway graduates earn about $4,982 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Florida Gateway is $639 lower than at Itawamba Community College.
Lean Itawamba Community College if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Itawamba Community College lists $7,902 less per year in tuition and housing than Florida Gateway.
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 | Florida Gateway | Itawamba Community College |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $3,100 — Florida Gateway leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $3,420 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $11,747 | $5,820 — Itawamba Community College leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $6,700 | $4,725 — Itawamba 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. | $9,800 | $8,145 — Itawamba 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. | $18,447 | $10,545 — Itawamba 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 | Florida Gateway | Itawamba Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 57% — Florida Gateway leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 45% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $37,894/yr — Florida Gateway leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $32,912/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $6,992 — Florida Gateway leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $7,631 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 18% — Florida Gateway leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 23% |
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 | Florida Gateway | Itawamba Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,837 | 4,937 |
| Where it is | Lake City, FL | Fulton, MS |
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 | Florida Gateway | Itawamba Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | FCSAA | MACCC |
| Head coach | Jesus Rivera | Carson Owens |
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.
Florida Gateway
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.
Itawamba Community College
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.
Florida Gateway vs Itawamba Community College: common questions
- Is Florida Gateway or Itawamba Community College cheaper?
- On published price, Itawamba Community College is cheaper — about $10,545 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $18,447 at Florida Gateway. 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, Florida Gateway or Itawamba Community College?
- Florida Gateway, at 57% against 45% at Itawamba Community College (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Florida Gateway and Itawamba 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.
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 Florida Gateway and Itawamba 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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