Temple vs Vernon: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the NTJCAC. Vernon lists $216 less in out-of-state tuition; Temple graduates 9 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 Temple if…
- You would be in-state: Temple is $240 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Vernon.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Temple graduates 9 percentage points more of its students than Vernon.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at Temple against none listed at Vernon.
Lean Vernon if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Vernon graduates earn about $1,786 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Vernon is $1,813 lower than at Temple.
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 | Temple | Vernon |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $4,800 — Temple leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $5,040 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $6,696 | $6,480 — Vernon leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | — | $6,138 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | — | $11,178 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | — | $12,618 |
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 | Temple | Vernon |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 27% — Temple leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 18% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $38,678/yr | $40,464/yr — Vernon leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $12,813 | $11,000 — Vernon 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. | 33% | 27% — Vernon 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 | Temple | Vernon |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 4,732 | 2,136 |
| Where it is | Temple, TX | Vernon, 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 | Temple | Vernon |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kadie Berlin-George | Lyndsey Lipscomb |
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 | Temple | Vernon |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed | — |
| 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. 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.
Vernon
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.
Temple vs Vernon: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Temple or Vernon?
- Temple, at 27% against 18% at Vernon (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Temple and Vernon 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 Temple and Vernon run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at Temple and none currently listed at Vernon. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Temple and Vernon?
- 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 Temple and Vernon 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.
Start free