Ranger vs Weatherford: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the NTJCAC. Ranger runs $3,661 less per year out of state; Ranger graduates 12 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 Ranger if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Ranger lists $3,661 less per year in tuition and housing than Weatherford.
- You would be in-state: Ranger is $585 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Weatherford.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Ranger graduates 12 percentage points more of its students than Weatherford.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Ranger is $448 lower than at Weatherford.
Lean Weatherford if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Weatherford graduates earn about $6,845 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 | Ranger | Weatherford |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $6,525 — Ranger leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $7,110 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $8,775 — Ranger leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $9,630 |
| Room & board | $4,964 — Ranger leads on this measure: lower room & board | $7,770 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $11,489 — Ranger leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $14,880 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $13,739 — Ranger leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $17,400 |
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 | Ranger | Weatherford |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 35% — Ranger leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 23% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $35,552/yr | $42,397/yr — Weatherford leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,500 — Ranger leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $9,948 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 27% | 23% — Weatherford 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 | Ranger | Weatherford |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 2,498 | 5,440 |
| Where it is | Ranger, TX | Weatherford, TX |
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 | Ranger | Weatherford |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Shelly Paige | Haylee Williams |
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 | Ranger | Weatherford |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Ranger
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.
Weatherford
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.
Ranger vs Weatherford: common questions
- Is Ranger or Weatherford cheaper?
- On published price, Ranger is cheaper — about $13,739 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $17,400 at Weatherford. 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, Ranger or Weatherford?
- Ranger, at 35% against 23% at Weatherford (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Ranger and Weatherford 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 Ranger and Weatherford?
- Ranger runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Weatherford, 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 Ranger and Weatherford 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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