Columbus State vs. Fortis College-Columbus

Comparable Facts

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

Columbus State Community College is larger than Fortis College-Columbus based on total student enrollment (28,081 students vs. 766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbus State Community College is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Fortis College Columbus is in Westerville, OH (Large Suburban setting).
• Columbus State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Columbus is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbus State Community College 18:1; Fortis College Columbus 16:1.

Columbus State vs. Fortis College-Columbus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State 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 Columbus State Community College than Fortis College-Columbus ($8,108 vs. $26,771).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus State Community College are 48.8% lower than at Fortis College Columbus ($8,640 vs. $16,875).
• Fortis College Columbus is 172.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbus State (about $9,447 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $5,488.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.1% higher at Fortis College-Columbus than at Columbus State Community College (about $3,711 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $11,224.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Columbus than at Columbus State Community College (86% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Columbus students is 48.7% larger than aid received by Columbus State Community College students ($7,836 vs. $5,271).

Columbus State vs. Fortis College-Columbus Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State 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 Columbus State.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbus State - Open admission; Fortis College-Columbus - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbus State Aug 21, 2027.

Columbus State vs. Fortis College-Columbus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbus State 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 Columbus State Community College earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Fortis College-Columbus graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,600 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Columbus State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Columbus students, three years after graduation. (31% 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.