Rhodes State College vs. Fortis College-Columbus

Comparable Facts

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

James A. Rhodes State College is larger than Fortis College-Columbus based on total student enrollment (4,124 students vs. 766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Rhodes State College vs. Fortis College-Columbus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rhodes State College 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 James A. Rhodes State College than Fortis College-Columbus ($8,628 vs. $26,771).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James A. Rhodes State College are 56.6% lower than at Fortis College Columbus ($7,330 vs. $16,875).
• Fortis College Columbus is 227.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rhodes State College (about $10,375 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $4,560.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 63.8% higher at Fortis College-Columbus than at James A. Rhodes State College (about $5,815 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $9,120.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Columbus than at James A. Rhodes State College (86% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Columbus students is 39% larger than aid received by James A. Rhodes State College students ($7,836 vs. $5,638).

Rhodes State College vs. Fortis College-Columbus Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rhodes State College 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 Rhodes State College.

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

Rhodes State College vs. Fortis College-Columbus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rhodes State College 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 James A. Rhodes State College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Fortis College-Columbus graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fortis College Columbus graduates have a $1,562 lower median loan debt than Rhodes State College graduates ($12,850 vs. $14,412).
• Among borrowers, Fortis College-Columbus graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rhodes State College graduates ($132 vs. $149).
• More Rhodes State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Columbus students, three years after graduation. (38% 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.