Clark State College vs. Fortis College-Columbus

Comparable Facts

Compare Clark State College in Springfield, OH with Fortis College Columbus in Westerville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clark State College is larger than Fortis College-Columbus based on total student enrollment (5,077 students vs. 766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Clark State College is located in Springfield, OH (Small City setting); Fortis College Columbus is in Westerville, OH (Large Suburban setting).
• Clark State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Columbus is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Clark State College 13:1; Fortis College Columbus 16:1.

Clark State College vs. Fortis College-Columbus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clark State College 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 Clark State College than Fortis College-Columbus ($11,860 vs. $26,771).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark State College are 22.8% lower than at Fortis College Columbus ($13,032 vs. $16,875).
• Fortis College Columbus is 240% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clark State College (about $10,542 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $4,393.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 85.6% higher at Fortis College-Columbus than at Clark State College (about $6,886 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $8,049.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Columbus than at Clark State College (86% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Columbus students is 51.4% larger than aid received by Clark State College students ($7,836 vs. $5,177).

Clark State College vs. Fortis College-Columbus Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clark State College 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 Clark State College.

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

Clark State College vs. Fortis College-Columbus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clark State College 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 Clark State College earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Fortis College-Columbus graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,100 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fortis College Columbus graduates have a $5,569 lower median loan debt than Clark State College graduates ($12,850 vs. $18,419).
• Among borrowers, Fortis College-Columbus graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clark State College graduates ($132 vs. $190).
• More Clark State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Columbus students, three years after graduation. (24% 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.