Jackson vs Lincoln Land Community College: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Jackson lists $453 less in out-of-state tuition; Lincoln Land Community College graduates 26 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 Jackson if…
- On the figures we hold, Jackson does not lead Lincoln Land Community College 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.
Lean Lincoln Land Community College if…
- You would be in-state: Lincoln Land Community College is $795 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Jackson.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Lincoln Land Community College graduates 26 percentage points more of its students than Jackson.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Lincoln Land Community College graduates earn about $1,581 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Lincoln Land Community College is $2,864 lower than at Jackson.
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 | Jackson | Lincoln Land Community College |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $7,755 | $6,960 — Lincoln Land Community College leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $9,795 — Jackson leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $10,248 |
| Room & board | $11,310 | — |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $19,065 | — |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $21,105 | — |
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 | Jackson | Lincoln Land Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 17% | 43% — Lincoln Land Community College leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $36,898/yr | $38,479/yr — Lincoln Land Community College leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,875 | $11,011 — Lincoln Land Community College leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 38% | 29% — Lincoln Land Community College leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
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 | Jackson | Lincoln Land Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,975 | 5,238 |
| Where it is | Jackson, MI | Springfield, IL |
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 | Jackson | Lincoln Land Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | MCCAA | Region 24 |
| Head coach | Kelly Gahn | Leslie Messina |
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 | Jackson | Lincoln Land Community College |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Jackson
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.
Lincoln Land Community College
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.
Jackson vs Lincoln Land Community College: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Jackson or Lincoln Land Community College?
- Lincoln Land Community College, at 43% against 17% at Jackson (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Jackson and Lincoln Land 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.
- How do I contact the coaches at Jackson and Lincoln Land 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 Jackson and Lincoln Land Community College 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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