  We compare the relative importance of different mechanisms for polarized
$J/\psi$ production in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering processes at
large $Q^2$. The transverse momentum dependent (TMD) factorization framework
and nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics are used to study the leading
contributions from light quark fragmentation to polarized $J/\psi$, and
compared to direct production via photon-gluon fusion, which can proceed
through color-singlet as well as color-octet mechanisms. We identify kinematic
regimes where light quark fragmentation dominates, allowing for the extraction
of the $^3S_1^{[8]}$ matrix element, as well as regimes where photon gluon
fusion dominates, suggesting that the gluon TMD parton distribution function
can be probed.
