Monterey Peninsula vs Ohlone: Softball Program Comparison

Two JUCO programs in the CCCAA. Ohlone lists $1,210 less in out-of-state tuition; Ohlone graduates 25 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 Monterey Peninsula if…

  • On the figures we hold, Monterey Peninsula does not lead Ohlone 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.

Lean Ohlone if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Ohlone graduates 25 percentage points more of its students than Monterey Peninsula.
  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: Ohlone graduates earn about $12,102 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.

What it costs to go there: Monterey Peninsula compared with Ohlone
MeasureMonterey PeninsulaOhlone
In-state tuition & fees$1,188$1,202
Out-of-state tuition & fees$9,924$8,714 Ohlone 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.

What you leave with: Monterey Peninsula compared with Ohlone
MeasureMonterey PeninsulaOhlone
Graduation rate30%55% Ohlone leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$42,176/yr$54,278/yr Ohlone leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out

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.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Monterey Peninsula compared with Ohlone
MeasureMonterey PeninsulaOhlone
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.7,3518,375
Where it isMonterey, CAFremont, CA

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.

The softball program itself: Monterey Peninsula compared with Ohlone
MeasureMonterey PeninsulaOhlone
Head coachBianca NoriegaJulie Marshall

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.

How you actually get in front of them: Monterey Peninsula compared with Ohlone
MeasureMonterey PeninsulaOhlone
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes

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.

How JUCO softball scholarships actually work →

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.

Monterey Peninsula

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Ohlone

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Monterey Peninsula vs Ohlone: common questions

Which school graduates more of its students, Monterey Peninsula or Ohlone?
Ohlone, at 55% against 30% at Monterey Peninsula (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Monterey Peninsula and Ohlone 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 Monterey Peninsula and Ohlone?
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 Monterey Peninsula and Ohlone 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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