Columbia State Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Nashville

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia State Community College in Columbia, TN with Fortis Institute Nashville in Nashville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia State Community College is larger than Fortis Institute-Nashville based on total student enrollment (5,712 students vs. 393 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia State Community College is located in Columbia, TN (Distant Town setting); Fortis Institute Nashville is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
• Columbia State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis Institute Nashville is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia State Community College 19:1; Fortis Institute Nashville 28:1.

Columbia State Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Nashville Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia State Community College or Fortis Institute-Nashville? 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 Columbia State Community College than Fortis Institute-Nashville ($6,193 vs. $28,679).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia State Community College are 25.1% lower than at Fortis Institute Nashville ($14,200 vs. $18,963).
• Fortis Institute Nashville is 195.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia State Community College (about $10,331 more per year; $15,627.00 vs. $5,296.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.9% higher at Columbia State Community College than at Fortis Institute Nashville (about $2,485 more per year; $18,112.00 vs. $15,627.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Columbia State Community College as at Fortis Institute Nashville (93% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis Institute Nashville students is 11.6% larger than aid received by Columbia State Community College students ($7,091 vs. $6,353).

Columbia State Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Nashville Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia State Community College or Fortis Institute-Nashville? 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 Institute-Nashville and Columbia State Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia State Community College - Open admission; Fortis Institute-Nashville - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbia State Community College Aug 13, 2027.

Columbia State Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Nashville Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia State Community College and Fortis Institute-Nashville? 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 Columbia State Community College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than Fortis Institute-Nashville graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,400 vs. $27,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia State Community College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Fortis Institute-Nashville graduates ($10,500 vs. $12,500).
• Among borrowers, Columbia State Community College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis Institute-Nashville graduates ($108 vs. $129).
• More Columbia State Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis Institute-Nashville students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 23%)

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.