Howard vs Trinity Valley Community College: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Howard runs $1,590 less per year out of state; Howard 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 Howard if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Howard lists $1,590 less per year in tuition and housing than Trinity Valley Community College.
- You would be in-state: Howard is $294 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Trinity Valley Community College.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Howard graduates 12 percentage points more of its students than Trinity Valley Community College.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Howard is $926 lower than at Trinity Valley Community College.
Lean Trinity Valley Community College if…
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Trinity Valley Community College against none listed at Howard.
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 | Howard | Trinity Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $4,626 — Howard leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $4,920 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $6,076 | $5,970 |
| Room & board | $5,838 — Howard leads on this measure: lower room & board | $7,534 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $10,464 — Howard leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $12,454 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $11,914 — Howard leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $13,504 |
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 | Howard | Trinity Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 36% — Howard leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 24% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $38,382/yr | $38,567/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,500 — Howard leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $10,426 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 25% — Howard leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 27% |
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 | Howard | Trinity Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,136 | 5,300 |
| Where it is | Big Spring, TX | Athens, TX |
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 | Howard | Trinity Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | WJCAC | Region 14 |
| Head coach | A.C. Lopez | Maria Winn-Ratliff |
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 | Howard | Trinity Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 2 listed (2 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.
Howard
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.
Trinity Valley Community College
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Trinity Valley Softball Prospect Camp | August 30th08/30/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $100
- Trinity Valley Softball Prospect Camp | December 6th12/06/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $100
Howard vs Trinity Valley Community College: common questions
- Is Howard or Trinity Valley Community College cheaper?
- On published price, Howard is cheaper — about $11,914 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $13,504 at Trinity Valley Community College. 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, Howard or Trinity Valley Community College?
- Howard, at 36% against 24% at Trinity Valley Community College (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Howard and Trinity Valley 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.
- Do Howard and Trinity Valley Community College run softball camps?
- We track 2 camps at Trinity Valley Community College and none currently listed at Howard. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Howard and Trinity Valley Community College?
- 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 Howard and Trinity Valley Community College accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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