Gulf Coast State vs Surry Community College: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Gulf Coast State graduates 37 points more of its students; Gulf Coast State graduates earn $2,347 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 Gulf Coast State if…
- You would be in-state: Gulf Coast State is $175 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Surry Community College.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Gulf Coast State graduates 37 percentage points more of its students than Surry Community College.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Gulf Coast State graduates earn about $2,347 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Surry Community College if…
- On the figures we hold, Surry Community College does not lead Gulf Coast State 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.
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 | Gulf Coast State | Surry Community College |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $2,370 — Gulf Coast State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $2,545 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $8,635 | $8,689 |
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 | Gulf Coast State | Surry Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 45% — Gulf Coast State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 8% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $38,359/yr — Gulf Coast State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $36,012/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $7,147 | — |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 19% | — |
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 | Gulf Coast State | Surry Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,959 | 2,758 |
| Where it is | Panama City, FL | Dobson, NC |
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 | Gulf Coast State | Surry Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | FCSAA | Region 10 |
| Head coach | Scot Thomas | Amber Reid |
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.
Gulf Coast State
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.
Surry 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.
Gulf Coast State vs Surry Community College: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Gulf Coast State or Surry Community College?
- Gulf Coast State, at 45% against 8% at Surry Community College (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Gulf Coast State and Surry 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 Gulf Coast State and Surry Community College accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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