Coastal Alabama Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham

Comparable Facts

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

Coastal Alabama Community College is larger than Fortis Institute-Birmingham based on total student enrollment (7,553 students vs. 613 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastal Alabama Community College is located in Bay Minette, AL (Distant Town setting); Fortis Institute Birmingham is in Birmingham, AL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Coastal Alabama 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: Coastal Alabama Community College 16:1; Fortis Institute Birmingham 30:1.

Coastal Alabama Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coastal Alabama Community College 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 Coastal Alabama Community College than Fortis Institute-Birmingham ($13,306 vs. $25,960).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fortis Institute Birmingham are 0.5% lower than at Coastal Alabama Community College ($10,800 vs. $10,850).
• Fortis Institute Birmingham is 204.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Alabama Community College (about $10,295 more per year; $15,335.00 vs. $5,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 72.1% higher at Fortis Institute-Birmingham than at Coastal Alabama Community College (about $6,425 more per year; $15,335.00 vs. $8,910.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis Institute Birmingham than at Coastal Alabama Community College (84% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Coastal Alabama Community College students is 19.5% larger than aid received by Fortis Institute Birmingham students ($8,922 vs. $7,468).

Coastal Alabama Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Coastal Alabama Community College 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 Coastal Alabama Community College.

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

Coastal Alabama Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Coastal Alabama Community College 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 Coastal Alabama Community College earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,800 vs. $26,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Alabama Community College graduates have a $1,628 lower median loan debt than Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates ($11,000 vs. $12,628).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Alabama Community College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates ($113 vs. $130).
• More Coastal Alabama Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis Institute-Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 19%)

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.