Gaston vs Northwest Florida State: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Gaston lists $2,295 less in out-of-state tuition; Gaston graduates 8 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 Gaston if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Gaston graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than Northwest Florida State.
Lean Northwest Florida State if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Northwest Florida State graduates earn about $4,278 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Northwest Florida State against none listed at Gaston.
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 | Gaston | Northwest Florida State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $3,186 | $3,246 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $9,330 — Gaston leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $11,625 |
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 | Gaston | Northwest Florida State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 51% — Gaston leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 43% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $35,386/yr | $39,664/yr — Northwest Florida State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | — | $7,932 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | — | 20% |
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 | Gaston | Northwest Florida State |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 5,871 | 5,160 |
| Where it is | Dallas, NC | Niceville, FL |
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 | Gaston | Northwest Florida State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Region 10 | FCSAA |
| Head coach | Michael Steuerwald | Andy Lee |
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 | Gaston | Northwest Florida State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 3 listed (3 with dates) |
| 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. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
Gaston
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.
Northwest Florida State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- 2026/27 Northwest Florida State Emerald Coast Prospect Showcase | September 6th09/06/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $135
- 2026/27 Northwest Florida State Emerald Coast Prospect Showcase | January 1st01/01/2027 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $135
- 2026/27 Northwest Florida State Emerald Coast Prospect Showcase | January 10th01/10/2027 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $135
Gaston vs Northwest Florida State: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Gaston or Northwest Florida State?
- Gaston, at 51% against 43% at Northwest Florida State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Gaston and Northwest Florida 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.
- Do Gaston and Northwest Florida State run softball camps?
- We track 3 camps at Northwest Florida State and none currently listed at Gaston. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Gaston and Northwest Florida State?
- 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 Gaston and Northwest Florida 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.
Start free