Marshalltown Community vs Terra State Community: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs. Marshalltown Community runs $12,150 less per year out of state; Marshalltown Community graduates earn $4,398 more a decade out.
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 Marshalltown Community if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Marshalltown Community lists $12,150 less per year in tuition and housing than Terra State Community.
- You would be in-state: Marshalltown Community is $356 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Terra State Community.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Marshalltown Community graduates earn about $4,398 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Marshalltown Community is $8,000 lower than at Terra State Community.
Lean Terra State Community if…
- On the figures we hold, Terra State Community does not lead Marshalltown Community 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 | Marshalltown Community | Terra State Community |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $5,304 — Marshalltown Community leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $5,660 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $5,808 — Marshalltown Community leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $10,316 |
| Room & board | $7,750 — Marshalltown Community leads on this measure: lower room & board | $15,392 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $13,054 — Marshalltown Community leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $21,052 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $13,558 — Marshalltown Community leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $25,708 |
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 | Marshalltown Community | Terra State Community |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 37% | 36% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $41,010/yr — Marshalltown Community leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $36,612/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,500 — Marshalltown Community leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $17,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 23% — Marshalltown Community leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 48% |
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 | Marshalltown Community | Terra State Community |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,870 | 2,214 |
| Where it is | Marshalltown, IA | Fremont, OH |
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 | Marshalltown Community | Terra State Community |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | ICCAC | MCCAA |
| Head coach | Dave Hartman | Troy Lewis |
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 | Marshalltown Community | Terra State 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.
Marshalltown 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.
Terra State 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.
Marshalltown Community vs Terra State Community: common questions
- Is Marshalltown Community or Terra State Community cheaper?
- On published price, Marshalltown Community is cheaper — about $13,558 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $25,708 at Terra State 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, Marshalltown Community or Terra State Community?
- Marshalltown Community, at 37% against 36% at Terra State Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Marshalltown Community and Terra State 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 Marshalltown Community and Terra State 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 Marshalltown Community and Terra State 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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