Spoon River vs Wabash Valley: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the Region 24. Wabash Valley graduates 16 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 Spoon River if…
- On the figures we hold, Spoon River does not lead Wabash Valley 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 Wabash Valley if…
- You would be in-state: Wabash Valley is $1,190 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Spoon River.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Wabash Valley graduates 16 percentage points more of its students than Spoon River.
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 | Spoon River | Wabash Valley |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $11,460 | $10,270 — Wabash Valley leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $12,540 | $12,340 |
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 | Spoon River | Wabash Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 43% | 59% — Wabash Valley leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $38,386/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 | Spoon River | Wabash Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,225 | 906 |
| Where it is | Canton, IL | Mount Carmel, 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 | Spoon River | Wabash Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | John Bassett | Jade Montgomery |
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.
Spoon River
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.
Wabash Valley
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.
Spoon River vs Wabash Valley: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Spoon River or Wabash Valley?
- Wabash Valley, at 59% against 43% at Spoon River (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Spoon River and Wabash Valley 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.
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 Spoon River and Wabash Valley 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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