Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond

Comparable Facts

Compare Laurel Ridge Community College in Middletown, VA with Fortis College Richmond in Richmond, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Laurel Ridge Community College is larger than Fortis College-Richmond based on total student enrollment (5,902 students vs. 502 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Laurel Ridge Community College is located in Middletown, VA (Rural Fringe setting); Fortis College Richmond is in Richmond, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Laurel Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Richmond is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Laurel Ridge Community College 28:1; Fortis College Richmond 23:1.

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laurel Ridge Community College or Fortis College-Richmond? 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 Laurel Ridge Community College than Fortis College-Richmond ($6,411 vs. $24,719).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Laurel Ridge Community College are 20.9% lower than at Fortis College Richmond ($9,970 vs. $12,600).
• Fortis College Richmond is 209.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Laurel Ridge Community College (about $10,616 more per year; $15,688.00 vs. $5,072.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.3% higher at Fortis College-Richmond than at Laurel Ridge Community College (about $4,178 more per year; $15,688.00 vs. $11,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Richmond than at Laurel Ridge Community College (95% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Richmond students is 28.2% larger than aid received by Laurel Ridge Community College students ($7,134 vs. $5,563).

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Laurel Ridge Community College or Fortis College-Richmond? 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-Richmond and Laurel Ridge Community College.

• Laurel Ridge Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Laurel Ridge Community College - Open admission; Fortis College-Richmond - Not reported.
• Typical fall application deadline: Laurel Ridge Community College Jul 27, 2027.

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Laurel Ridge Community College and Fortis College-Richmond? 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 Laurel Ridge Community College earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than Fortis College-Richmond graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,600 vs. $26,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Laurel Ridge Community College graduates have a $2,389 lower median loan debt than Fortis College-Richmond graduates ($7,625 vs. $10,014).
• Among borrowers, Laurel Ridge Community College graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College-Richmond graduates ($78 vs. $103).
• More Laurel Ridge Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Richmond students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 20%)

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.