Fort Scott Community vs Garden City Community: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the KJCCC. Fort Scott Community runs $416 less per year out of state; Garden City Community graduates 7 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 Fort Scott Community if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Fort Scott Community lists $416 less per year in tuition and housing than Garden City Community.
Lean Garden City Community if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Garden City Community graduates 7 percentage points more of its students than Fort Scott Community.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Garden City Community graduates earn about $4,491 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Garden City Community is $3,000 lower than at Fort Scott 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 | Fort Scott Community | Garden City Community |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $3,690 | $3,630 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $3,690 — Fort Scott Community leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $4,200 |
| Room & board | $6,694 | $6,600 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $10,384 | $10,230 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $10,384 — Fort Scott Community leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $10,800 |
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 | Fort Scott Community | Garden City Community |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 34% | 41% — Garden City Community leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $37,213/yr | $41,704/yr — Garden City Community leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,500 | $6,500 — Garden City Community 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. | 26% | 16% — Garden City Community 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 | Fort Scott Community | Garden City Community |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,464 | 1,904 |
| Where it is | Fort Scott, KS | Garden City, 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 | Fort Scott Community | Garden City Community |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kiana Saint Pierre | Belinda Hendrix |
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 | Fort Scott Community | Garden City Community |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | 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.
Fort Scott 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.
Garden City 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.
Fort Scott Community vs Garden City Community: common questions
- Is Fort Scott Community or Garden City Community cheaper?
- On published price, Fort Scott Community is cheaper — about $10,384 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $10,800 at Garden City Community. 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, Fort Scott Community or Garden City Community?
- Garden City Community, at 41% against 34% at Fort Scott Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Fort Scott Community and Garden City 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Fort Scott Community and Garden City Community?
- Garden City Community runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Fort Scott 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 Fort Scott Community and Garden City 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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