BRCC vs. Fortis College-Richmond

Comparable Facts

Compare Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, VA with Fortis College Richmond in Richmond, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Blue Ridge Community College is larger than Fortis College-Richmond based on total student enrollment (3,790 students vs. 502 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blue Ridge Community College is located in Weyers Cave, VA (Distant Rural setting); Fortis College Richmond is in Richmond, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Blue Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Richmond is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blue Ridge Community College 21:1; Fortis College Richmond 23:1.

BRCC vs. Fortis College-Richmond Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BRCC or Fortis College-Richmond? 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 Blue Ridge Community College than Fortis College-Richmond ($14,191 vs. $24,719).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Ridge Community College are 25.7% lower than at Fortis College Richmond ($9,366 vs. $12,600).
• Fortis College Richmond is 177.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than BRCC (about $10,042 more per year; $15,688.00 vs. $5,646.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.8% higher at Fortis College-Richmond than at Blue Ridge Community College (about $3,604 more per year; $15,688.00 vs. $12,084.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Richmond than at Blue Ridge Community College (95% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Richmond students is 8.9% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($7,134 vs. $6,552).

BRCC vs. Fortis College-Richmond Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BRCC or Fortis College-Richmond? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Fortis College-Richmond and BRCC.

• Blue Ridge Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BRCC - Open admission; Fortis College-Richmond - Not reported.

BRCC vs. Fortis College-Richmond Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BRCC and Fortis College-Richmond? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Blue Ridge Community College earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than Fortis College-Richmond graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,800 vs. $26,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Blue Ridge Community College graduates have a $1,514 lower median loan debt than Fortis College-Richmond graduates ($8,500 vs. $10,014).
• Among borrowers, BRCC graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College-Richmond graduates ($87 vs. $103).
• More BRCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Richmond students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 20%)

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.