Pasadena City vs Santa Monica: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the CCCAA. Pasadena City lists $888 less in out-of-state tuition; Pasadena City graduates earn $1,744 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 Pasadena City if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Pasadena City graduates earn about $1,744 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Santa Monica if…
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Santa Monica is $201 lower than at Pasadena City.
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 | Pasadena City | Santa Monica |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $1,180 | $1,156 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $9,820 — Pasadena City leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $10,708 |
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 | Pasadena City | Santa Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $43,937/yr — Pasadena City leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $42,193/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $6,651 | $6,450 — Santa Monica 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. | 15% | 15% |
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 | Pasadena City | Santa Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 23,592 | 23,164 |
| Where it is | Pasadena, CA | Santa Monica, 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 | Pasadena City | Santa Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Anthony Gonzalez | — |
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 | Pasadena City | Santa Monica |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Pasadena City
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.
Santa Monica
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.
Pasadena City vs Santa Monica: common questions
- Do Pasadena City and Santa Monica 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 Pasadena City and Santa Monica?
- Pasadena City runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Santa Monica, 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 Pasadena City and Santa Monica 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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