Calhoun Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham

Comparable Facts

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

John C Calhoun State Community College is larger than Fortis Institute-Birmingham based on total student enrollment (9,119 students vs. 613 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• John C Calhoun State Community College is located in Tanner, AL (Rural Fringe setting); Fortis Institute Birmingham is in Birmingham, AL (Rural Fringe setting).
• John C Calhoun 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: John C Calhoun State Community College 22:1; Fortis Institute Birmingham 30:1.

Calhoun Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Calhoun 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 John C Calhoun State Community College than Fortis Institute-Birmingham ($7,388 vs. $25,960).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fortis Institute Birmingham are 4% lower than at John C Calhoun State Community College ($10,800 vs. $11,250).
• Fortis Institute Birmingham is 199.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Calhoun Community College (about $10,215 more per year; $15,335.00 vs. $5,120.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 70.6% higher at Fortis Institute-Birmingham than at John C Calhoun State Community College (about $6,345 more per year; $15,335.00 vs. $8,990.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis Institute Birmingham than at John C Calhoun State Community College (84% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis Institute Birmingham students is 27.8% larger than aid received by John C Calhoun State Community College students ($7,468 vs. $5,842).

Calhoun Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Calhoun 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 Calhoun Community College.

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

Calhoun Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Calhoun 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 John C Calhoun State Community College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,400 vs. $26,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, John C Calhoun State Community College graduates have a $1,628 lower median loan debt than Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates ($11,000 vs. $12,628).
• Among borrowers, Calhoun Community College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates ($113 vs. $130).
• More Calhoun Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis Institute-Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.