Drake State vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham

Comparable Facts

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

J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is larger than Fortis Institute-Birmingham based on total student enrollment (1,187 students vs. 613 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is located in Huntsville, AL (Midsize City setting); Fortis Institute Birmingham is in Birmingham, AL (Rural Fringe setting).
• J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis Institute Birmingham is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College 13:1; Fortis Institute Birmingham 30:1.

Drake State vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drake State 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 J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College than Fortis Institute-Birmingham ($6,075 vs. $25,960).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College are 12.5% lower than at Fortis Institute Birmingham ($9,450 vs. $10,800).
• Fortis Institute Birmingham is 195.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drake State (about $10,145 more per year; $15,335.00 vs. $5,190.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 69.3% higher at Fortis Institute-Birmingham than at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College (about $6,275 more per year; $15,335.00 vs. $9,060.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College as at Fortis Institute Birmingham (84% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College students is 10.4% larger than aid received by Fortis Institute Birmingham students ($8,245 vs. $7,468).

Drake State vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Admissions comparison

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

• J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drake State - Open admission; Fortis Institute-Birmingham - Not reported.

Drake State vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drake State 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 Fortis Institute Birmingham earn a median of about $700 more per year than Drake State graduates about ten years after starting college ($26,800 vs. $26,100), 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.