Hutchinson Community vs Northeast Community: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Hutchinson Community runs $3,287 less per year out of state; Northeast Community graduates 11 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 Hutchinson Community if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Hutchinson Community lists $3,287 less per year in tuition and housing than Northeast Community.
- You would be in-state: Hutchinson Community is $120 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Northeast Community.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Hutchinson Community is $1,227 lower than at Northeast Community.
Lean Northeast Community if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Northeast Community graduates 11 percentage points more of its students than Hutchinson 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 | Hutchinson Community | Northeast Community |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $3,720 — Hutchinson Community leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $3,840 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $4,650 — Hutchinson Community leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $5,130 |
| Room & board | $6,830 — Hutchinson Community leads on this measure: lower room & board | $9,637 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $10,550 — Hutchinson Community leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $13,477 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $11,480 — Hutchinson Community leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $14,767 |
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 | Hutchinson Community | Northeast Community |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 45% | 56% — Northeast Community leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $43,470/yr | $42,634/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,773 — Hutchinson Community leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $11,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 22% — Hutchinson Community leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 26% |
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 | Hutchinson Community | Northeast Community |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,983 | 5,595 |
| Where it is | Hutchinson, KS | Norfolk, 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 | Hutchinson Community | Northeast Community |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | KJCCC | Region 9 |
| Head coach | Jaime Rose | Erin Sharpe |
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 | Hutchinson Community | Northeast Community |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Hutchinson 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.
Northeast 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.
Hutchinson Community vs Northeast Community: common questions
- Is Hutchinson Community or Northeast Community cheaper?
- On published price, Hutchinson Community is cheaper — about $11,480 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $14,767 at Northeast 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, Hutchinson Community or Northeast Community?
- Northeast Community, at 56% against 45% at Hutchinson Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Hutchinson Community and Northeast 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 Hutchinson Community and Northeast Community?
- 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 Hutchinson Community and Northeast 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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