Shawnee Community vs Southeastern Illinois: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the Region 24. Southeastern Illinois lists $960 less in out-of-state tuition; Southeastern Illinois graduates 7 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 Shawnee Community if…
- On the figures we hold, Shawnee Community does not lead Southeastern Illinois 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 Southeastern Illinois if…
- You would be in-state: Southeastern Illinois is $900 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Shawnee Community.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Southeastern Illinois graduates 7 percentage points more of its students than Shawnee Community.
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 | Shawnee Community | Southeastern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $7,200 | $6,300 — Southeastern Illinois leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $7,500 | $6,540 — Southeastern Illinois 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.
| Measure | Shawnee Community | Southeastern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 44% | 51% — Southeastern Illinois leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $32,999/yr | $33,763/yr |
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 | Shawnee Community | Southeastern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,142 | 1,392 |
| Where it is | Ullin, IL | Harrisburg, IL |
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 | Shawnee Community | Southeastern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Christopher Shelton | Tabitha 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 | Shawnee Community | Southeastern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Shawnee Community
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.
Southeastern Illinois
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.
Shawnee Community vs Southeastern Illinois: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Shawnee Community or Southeastern Illinois?
- Southeastern Illinois, at 51% against 44% at Shawnee Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Shawnee Community and Southeastern Illinois 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 Shawnee Community and Southeastern Illinois?
- 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 Shawnee Community and Southeastern Illinois 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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