Lake Land vs Northeast Iowa Community College: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Northeast Iowa Community College lists $6,436 less in out-of-state tuition; Lake Land graduates 6 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 Land if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Lake Land graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Northeast Iowa Community College.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Lake Land is $5,812 lower than at Northeast Iowa Community College.
Lean Northeast Iowa Community College if…
- You would be in-state: Northeast Iowa Community College is $1,504 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Lake Land.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Northeast Iowa Community College graduates earn about $2,429 more per year a decade after enrolling.
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 Land | Northeast Iowa Community College |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $8,104 | $6,600 — Northeast Iowa Community College leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $13,906 | $7,470 — Northeast Iowa Community College 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 Land | Northeast Iowa Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 54% — Lake Land leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 48% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $38,877/yr | $41,306/yr — Northeast Iowa Community College leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $6,188 — Lake Land leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $12,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 16% — Lake Land leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 29% |
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 Land | Northeast Iowa Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 3,699 | 4,378 |
| Where it is | Mattoon, IL | Calmar, IA |
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 Land | Northeast Iowa Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Region 24 | ICCAC |
| Head coach | John Hendrix | Nick Weinmeister |
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 Land
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.
Northeast Iowa 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.
Lake Land vs Northeast Iowa Community College: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Lake Land or Northeast Iowa Community College?
- Lake Land, at 54% against 48% at Northeast Iowa Community College (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Lake Land and Northeast Iowa 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 Lake Land and Northeast Iowa 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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