GSCC vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham

Comparable Facts

Compare Gadsden State Community College in Gadsden, AL with Fortis Institute Birmingham in Birmingham, AL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gadsden State Community College is larger than Fortis Institute-Birmingham based on total student enrollment (5,071 students vs. 613 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gadsden State Community College is located in Gadsden, AL (Small City setting); Fortis Institute Birmingham is in Birmingham, AL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Gadsden State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis Institute Birmingham is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gadsden State Community College 17:1; Fortis Institute Birmingham 30:1.

GSCC vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSCC or Fortis Institute-Birmingham? 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 Gadsden State Community College than Fortis Institute-Birmingham ($3,384 vs. $25,960).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gadsden State Community College are 50% lower than at Fortis Institute Birmingham ($5,400 vs. $10,800).
• Fortis Institute Birmingham is 259% more expensive for in-state tuition than GSCC (about $11,063 more per year; $15,335.00 vs. $4,272.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 108.1% higher at Fortis Institute-Birmingham than at Gadsden State Community College (about $7,967 more per year; $15,335.00 vs. $7,368.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gadsden State Community College than at Fortis Institute Birmingham (89% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis Institute Birmingham students is 10.5% larger than aid received by Gadsden State Community College students ($7,468 vs. $6,758).

GSCC vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GSCC or Fortis Institute-Birmingham? 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-Birmingham and GSCC.

• Gadsden State Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GSCC - Open admission; Fortis Institute-Birmingham - Not reported.

GSCC vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GSCC and Fortis Institute-Birmingham? 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 Gadsden State Community College earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,300 vs. $26,800), 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.