LCCC vs. Fortis College-Columbus

Comparable Facts

Compare Lorain County Community College in Elyria, OH with Fortis College Columbus in Westerville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lorain County Community College is larger than Fortis College-Columbus based on total student enrollment (9,350 students vs. 766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lorain County Community College is located in Elyria, OH (Small City setting); Fortis College Columbus is in Westerville, OH (Large Suburban setting).
• Lorain County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Columbus is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lorain County Community College 14:1; Fortis College Columbus 16:1.

LCCC vs. Fortis College-Columbus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LCCC 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 Lorain County Community College than Fortis College-Columbus ($4,126 vs. $26,771).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lorain County Community College are 51% lower than at Fortis College Columbus ($8,272 vs. $16,875).
• Fortis College Columbus is 203.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than LCCC (about $10,016 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $4,919.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.6% higher at Fortis College-Columbus than at Lorain County Community College (about $6,075 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $8,860.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Columbus than at Lorain County Community College (86% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Columbus students is 51% larger than aid received by Lorain County Community College students ($7,836 vs. $5,189).

LCCC vs. Fortis College-Columbus Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LCCC 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 LCCC.

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

LCCC vs. Fortis College-Columbus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LCCC 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 Lorain County Community College earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Fortis College-Columbus graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,300 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lorain County Community College graduates have a $1,347 lower median loan debt than Fortis College-Columbus graduates ($11,503 vs. $12,850).
• Among borrowers, LCCC graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College-Columbus graduates ($118 vs. $132).
• More LCCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Columbus students, three years after graduation. (31% 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.