Mid-Plains CC vs Western Nebraska Community College: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the Region 9. Mid-Plains CC runs $392 less per year out of state; Mid-Plains CC graduates 11 points more of its students.
Mid-Plains CC
Region 9
North Platte, NE
JUCOWestern Nebraska Community College
Region 9
Scottsbluff, NE
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 Mid-Plains CC if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Mid-Plains CC lists $392 less per year in tuition and housing than Western Nebraska Community College.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Mid-Plains CC graduates 11 percentage points more of its students than Western Nebraska Community College.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Mid-Plains CC graduates earn about $1,330 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Western Nebraska Community College if…
- You would be in-state: Western Nebraska Community College is $600 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Mid-Plains CC.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Western Nebraska Community College is $995 lower than at Mid-Plains CC.
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 | Mid-Plains CC | Western Nebraska Community College |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $3,600 | $3,000 — Western Nebraska Community College leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $4,530 | $3,360 — Western Nebraska Community College leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $7,312 — Mid-Plains CC leads on this measure: lower room & board | $8,874 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $10,912 — Mid-Plains CC leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $11,874 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $11,842 — Mid-Plains CC leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $12,234 |
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 | Mid-Plains CC | Western Nebraska Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 46% — Mid-Plains CC leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 35% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $40,059/yr — Mid-Plains CC leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $38,729/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,995 | $9,000 — Western Nebraska 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. | 25% | 23% — Western Nebraska 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 | Mid-Plains CC | Western Nebraska Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,066 | 1,508 |
| Where it is | North Platte, NE | Scottsbluff, NE |
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 | Mid-Plains CC | Western Nebraska Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Mark Franzen | Nayeli Diaz |
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 | Mid-Plains CC | Western Nebraska Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | 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.
Mid-Plains CC
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.
Western Nebraska 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.
Mid-Plains CC vs Western Nebraska Community College: common questions
- Is Mid-Plains CC or Western Nebraska Community College cheaper?
- On published price, Mid-Plains CC is cheaper — about $11,842 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $12,234 at Western Nebraska Community College. 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, Mid-Plains CC or Western Nebraska Community College?
- Mid-Plains CC, at 46% against 35% at Western Nebraska Community College (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Mid-Plains CC and Western Nebraska 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 Mid-Plains CC and Western Nebraska Community College?
- Western Nebraska Community College runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Mid-Plains CC, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 Mid-Plains CC and Western Nebraska 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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