Shelton State Community vs Southern Union State Community: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the ACCC. Southern Union State Community graduates 6 points more of its students; Southern Union State Community graduates earn $1,583 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 Shelton State Community if…
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Shelton State Community against none listed at Southern Union State Community.
Lean Southern Union State Community if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Southern Union State Community graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Shelton State Community.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Southern Union State Community graduates earn about $1,583 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 | Shelton State Community | Southern Union State Community |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $5,067 | $4,980 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $8,877 | $8,790 |
| Room & board | — | $6,000 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | — | $10,980 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | — | $14,790 |
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 | Shelton State Community | Southern Union State Community |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 21% | 27% — Southern Union State Community leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $35,014/yr | $36,597/yr — Southern Union State Community leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | — | $11,000 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | — | 30% |
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 | Shelton State Community | Southern Union State Community |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,536 | 4,673 |
| Where it is | Tuscaloosa, AL | Wadley, AL |
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 | Shelton State Community | Southern Union State Community |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kaitlin Griffin | Brandon Cobb |
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 | Shelton State Community | Southern Union State Community |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed (1 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
| Program on X / Instagram | 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. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
Shelton State Community
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Shelton State Softball Camp | Prospect Camp08/30/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $125
Southern Union State Community
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.
Shelton State Community vs Southern Union State Community: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Shelton State Community or Southern Union State Community?
- Southern Union State Community, at 27% against 21% at Shelton State Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Shelton State Community and Southern Union State Community 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.
- Do Shelton State Community and Southern Union State Community run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Shelton State Community and none currently listed at Southern Union State Community. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Shelton State Community and Southern Union State Community?
- Shelton State Community runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Southern Union State Community, 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 Shelton State Community and Southern Union State Community 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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