Northern Virginia Community College vs. Fortis College-Norfolk

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, VA with Fortis College Norfolk in Norfolk, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Virginia Community College is larger than Fortis College-Norfolk based on total student enrollment (56,457 students vs. 399 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northern Virginia Community College is located in Annandale, VA (Large Suburban setting); Fortis College Norfolk is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Northern Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Norfolk is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Virginia Community College 31:1; Fortis College Norfolk 19:1.

Northern Virginia Community College vs. Fortis College-Norfolk Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Virginia Community College or Fortis College-Norfolk? 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 Northern Virginia Community College than Fortis College-Norfolk ($9,627 vs. $24,764).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Virginia Community College are 23.8% lower than at Fortis College Norfolk ($12,684 vs. $16,650).
• Fortis College Norfolk is 151.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northern Virginia Community College (about $8,910 more per year; $14,801.00 vs. $5,891.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.3% higher at Fortis College-Norfolk than at Northern Virginia Community College (about $2,392 more per year; $14,801.00 vs. $12,409.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Norfolk than at Northern Virginia Community College (96% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Virginia Community College students is 3.8% larger than aid received by Fortis College Norfolk students ($7,519 vs. $7,241).

Northern Virginia Community College vs. Fortis College-Norfolk Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northern Virginia Community College or Fortis College-Norfolk? 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-Norfolk and Northern Virginia Community College.

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

Northern Virginia Community College vs. Fortis College-Norfolk Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northern Virginia Community College and Fortis College-Norfolk? 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 Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of about $19,700 more per year than Fortis College-Norfolk graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $26,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fortis College Norfolk graduates have a $986 lower median loan debt than Northern Virginia Community College graduates ($10,014 vs. $11,000).
• Among borrowers, Fortis College-Norfolk graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northern Virginia Community College graduates ($103 vs. $113).
• More Northern Virginia Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Norfolk students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.