Aiken Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia

Comparable Facts

Compare Aiken Technical College in Graniteville, SC with Fortis College Columbia in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Aiken Technical College is larger than Fortis College - Columbia based on total student enrollment (2,307 students vs. 582 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Aiken Technical College is located in Graniteville, SC (Rural Fringe setting); Fortis College Columbia is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
• Aiken Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Columbia is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Aiken Technical College 15:1; Fortis College Columbia 29:1.

Aiken Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Aiken Technical College or Fortis College - Columbia? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aiken Technical College than Fortis College - Columbia ($5,442 vs. $20,510).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aiken Technical College are 19% lower than at Fortis College Columbia ($10,800 vs. $13,338).
• Fortis College Columbia is 139.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Aiken Technical College (about $8,605 more per year; $14,777.00 vs. $6,172.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 86.5% higher at Fortis College - Columbia than at Aiken Technical College (about $6,853 more per year; $14,777.00 vs. $7,924.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aiken Technical College than at Fortis College Columbia (93% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Columbia students is 9.4% larger than aid received by Aiken Technical College students ($7,718 vs. $7,053).

Aiken Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Aiken Technical College or Fortis College - Columbia? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Fortis College - Columbia and Aiken Technical College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Aiken Technical College - Open admission; Fortis College - Columbia - Open admission.

Aiken Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Aiken Technical College and Fortis College - Columbia? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Aiken Technical College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Fortis College - Columbia graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,500 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aiken Technical College graduates have a $4,405 lower median loan debt than Fortis College - Columbia graduates ($8,445 vs. $12,850).
• Among borrowers, Aiken Technical College graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College - Columbia graduates ($87 vs. $132).
• More Aiken Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College - Columbia students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 22%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.