COTC vs. Fortis College-Columbus

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Ohio Technical College in Newark, OH with Fortis College Columbus in Westerville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Ohio Technical College is larger than Fortis College-Columbus based on total student enrollment (3,182 students vs. 766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Ohio Technical College is located in Newark, OH (Small Suburban setting); Fortis College Columbus is in Westerville, OH (Large Suburban setting).
• Central Ohio Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Columbus is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Ohio Technical College 16:1; Fortis College Columbus 16:1.

COTC vs. Fortis College-Columbus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, COTC or Fortis College-Columbus? 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 Central Ohio Technical College than Fortis College-Columbus ($9,115 vs. $26,771).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Ohio Technical College are 45.5% lower than at Fortis College Columbus ($9,192 vs. $16,875).
• Fortis College Columbus is 184.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than COTC (about $9,679 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $5,256.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 86.3% higher at Fortis College-Columbus than at Central Ohio Technical College (about $6,919 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $8,016.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Columbus than at Central Ohio Technical College (86% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Columbus students is 39.2% larger than aid received by Central Ohio Technical College students ($7,836 vs. $5,630).

COTC vs. Fortis College-Columbus Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, COTC or Fortis College-Columbus? 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-Columbus and COTC.

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

COTC vs. Fortis College-Columbus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for COTC and Fortis College-Columbus? 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 Central Ohio Technical College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Fortis College-Columbus graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,000 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fortis College Columbus graduates have a $4,401 lower median loan debt than COTC graduates ($12,850 vs. $17,251).
• Among borrowers, Fortis College-Columbus graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than COTC graduates ($132 vs. $178).
• More COTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Columbus students, three years after graduation. (30% 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.