Palomar vs Saddleback: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the CCCAA. Palomar lists $3,082 less in out-of-state tuition; Saddleback 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 Palomar if…
- You would be in-state: Palomar is $78 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Saddleback.
Lean Saddleback if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Saddleback graduates 8 percentage points more of its students than Palomar.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Saddleback graduates earn about $8,574 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.
| Measure | Palomar | Saddleback |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $1,354 — Palomar leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $1,432 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $10,650 — Palomar leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $13,732 |
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 | Palomar | Saddleback |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 34% | 42% — Saddleback leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $42,300/yr | $50,874/yr — Saddleback leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | — | $9,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | — | 19% |
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 | Palomar | Saddleback |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 18,815 | 18,370 |
| Where it is | San Marcos, CA | Mission Viejo, 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.
| Measure | Palomar | Saddleback |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Lacey Craft | Krysten Fisher |
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 | Palomar | Saddleback |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Palomar
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.
Saddleback
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.
Palomar vs Saddleback: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Palomar or Saddleback?
- Saddleback, at 42% against 34% at Palomar (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Palomar and Saddleback 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 Palomar and Saddleback?
- 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 Palomar and Saddleback 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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