Garden City Community vs Mid-Plains CC: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Garden City Community runs $1,042 less per year out of state; Mid-Plains CC graduates 5 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 Garden City Community if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Garden City Community lists $1,042 less per year in tuition and housing than Mid-Plains CC.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Garden City Community graduates earn about $1,645 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Garden City Community is $3,495 lower than at Mid-Plains CC.
Lean Mid-Plains CC if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Mid-Plains CC graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than Garden City 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 | Garden City Community | Mid-Plains CC |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $3,630 | $3,600 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $4,200 — Garden City Community leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $4,530 |
| Room & board | $6,600 — Garden City Community leads on this measure: lower room & board | $7,312 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $10,230 — Garden City Community leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $10,912 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $10,800 — Garden City Community leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $11,842 |
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 | Garden City Community | Mid-Plains CC |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 41% | 46% — Mid-Plains CC leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $41,704/yr — Garden City Community leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $40,059/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $6,500 — Garden City Community leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $9,995 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 16% — Garden City Community leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 25% |
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 | Garden City Community | Mid-Plains CC |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,904 | 2,066 |
| Where it is | Garden City, KS | North Platte, NE |
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 | Garden City Community | Mid-Plains CC |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | KJCCC | Region 9 |
| Head coach | Belinda Hendrix | Mark Franzen |
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 | Garden City Community | Mid-Plains CC |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
Mid-Plains CC
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 vs Mid-Plains CC: common questions
- Is Garden City Community or Mid-Plains CC cheaper?
- On published price, Garden City Community is cheaper — about $10,800 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $11,842 at Mid-Plains CC. 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, Garden City Community or Mid-Plains CC?
- Mid-Plains CC, at 46% against 41% at Garden City Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Garden City Community and Mid-Plains CC 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 Garden City Community and Mid-Plains CC?
- Garden City Community runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Mid-Plains CC, 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 Garden City Community and Mid-Plains CC 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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