Fortis College-Norfolk vs. Southwest Virginia

Comparable Facts

Compare Fortis College Norfolk in Norfolk, VA with Southwest Virginia Community College in Cedar Bluff, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwest Virginia Community College is larger than Fortis College-Norfolk based on total student enrollment (2,364 students vs. 399 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fortis College Norfolk is located in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting); Southwest Virginia Community College is in Cedar Bluff, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Fortis College Norfolk is a private, for-profit 2-year institution. Southwest Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fortis College Norfolk 19:1; Southwest Virginia Community College 20:1.

Fortis College-Norfolk vs. Southwest Virginia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fortis College-Norfolk or Southwest Virginia? 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 Southwest Virginia Community College than Fortis College-Norfolk ($6,275 vs. $24,764).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Virginia Community College are 45.9% lower than at Fortis College Norfolk ($9,000 vs. $16,650).
• Fortis College Norfolk is 191.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Virginia (about $9,726 more per year; $14,801.00 vs. $5,075.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.6% higher at Fortis College-Norfolk than at Southwest Virginia Community College (about $3,288 more per year; $14,801.00 vs. $11,513.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Norfolk than at Southwest Virginia Community College (96% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Norfolk students is 0.1% larger than aid received by Southwest Virginia Community College students ($7,241 vs. $7,232).

Fortis College-Norfolk vs. Southwest Virginia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fortis College-Norfolk or Southwest Virginia? 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 Southwest Virginia and Fortis College-Norfolk.

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

Fortis College-Norfolk vs. Southwest Virginia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fortis College-Norfolk and Southwest Virginia? 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 Southwest Virginia Community College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Fortis College-Norfolk graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,100 vs. $26,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.