Northland CTC vs Ridgewater: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the Region 13. Northland CTC graduates 3 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 Northland CTC if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Northland CTC graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Ridgewater.
Lean Ridgewater if…
- On the figures we hold, Ridgewater does not lead Northland CTC 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: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board 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 | Northland CTC | Ridgewater |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $6,289 | $6,121 |
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 | Northland CTC | Ridgewater |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 48% — Northland CTC leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 45% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $44,425/yr | $43,827/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $12,000 | $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. | 27% | 27% |
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 | Northland CTC | Ridgewater |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,477 | 2,855 |
| Where it is | Thief River Falls, MN | Willmar, MN |
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 | Northland CTC | Ridgewater |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Rick Looker | Morgan Flann |
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 | Northland CTC | Ridgewater |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Northland CTC
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.
Ridgewater
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.
Northland CTC vs Ridgewater: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Northland CTC or Ridgewater?
- Northland CTC, at 48% against 45% at Ridgewater (IPEDS 2023-2024). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Northland CTC and Ridgewater 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 Northland CTC and Ridgewater?
- Northland CTC runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Ridgewater, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). 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 Northland CTC and Ridgewater 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.
Start freeOther comparisons worth making
Northland CTC vs Dakota County Technical College
JUCO · Region 13
Northland CTC vs Southeastern Community College
JUCO · ICCAC
Northland CTC vs NIACC
JUCO · ICCAC
Ridgewater vs Itasca Community College
JUCO · Region 13
Ridgewater vs Mesabi Range
JUCO · Region 13
Ridgewater vs Vermilion Community College
JUCO · Region 13