Lake County vs Moraine Valley Community: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the Region 4. Moraine Valley Community lists $4,190 less in out-of-state tuition; Lake County graduates 5 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 Lake County if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Lake County graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than Moraine Valley Community.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Lake County is $765 lower than at Moraine Valley Community.
Lean Moraine Valley Community if…
- You would be in-state: Moraine Valley Community is $2,029 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Lake County.
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 | Lake County | Moraine Valley Community |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $10,531 | $8,502 — Moraine Valley Community leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $14,036 | $9,846 — Moraine Valley Community leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
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 | Lake County | Moraine Valley Community |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 38% — Lake County leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 33% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $43,424/yr | $43,892/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $8,735 — Lake County leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $9,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 20% — Lake County leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 22% |
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 | Lake County | Moraine Valley Community |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 12,290 | 11,144 |
| Where it is | Grayslake, IL | Palos Hills, 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 | Lake County | Moraine Valley Community |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Hannah Clark | Ari Bulthuis |
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 | Lake County | Moraine Valley Community |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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.
Lake County
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.
Moraine Valley 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.
Lake County vs Moraine Valley Community: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Lake County or Moraine Valley Community?
- Lake County, at 38% against 33% at Moraine Valley Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Lake County and Moraine Valley 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 Lake County and Moraine Valley 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 Lake County and Moraine Valley 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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