Lincoln Trail vs McHenry County College: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Lincoln Trail lists $2,545 less in out-of-state tuition; Lincoln Trail graduates 8 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 Lincoln Trail if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Lincoln Trail graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than McHenry County College.
Lean McHenry County College if…
- On the figures we hold, McHenry County College does not lead Lincoln Trail 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.
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 | Lincoln Trail | McHenry County College |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $10,270 | $10,529 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $12,340 — Lincoln Trail leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $14,885 |
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 | Lincoln Trail | McHenry County College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 47% — Lincoln Trail leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 39% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | — | $45,143/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | — | $6,260 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | — | 14% |
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 | Lincoln Trail | McHenry County College |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 605 | 9,051 |
| Where it is | Robinson, IL | Crystal Lake, 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 | Lincoln Trail | McHenry County College |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Region 24 | Region 4 |
| Head coach | Eva Richardson | Wally Warner |
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 | Lincoln Trail | McHenry County 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.
Lincoln Trail
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.
McHenry County 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.
Lincoln Trail vs McHenry County College: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Lincoln Trail or McHenry County College?
- Lincoln Trail, at 47% against 39% at McHenry County College (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Lincoln Trail and McHenry County 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 Lincoln Trail and McHenry County 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 Lincoln Trail and McHenry County 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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