Northwest Shoals Community College vs. Fortis College

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwest Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals, AL with Fortis College in Mobile, AL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwest Shoals Community College is larger than Fortis College based on total student enrollment (4,665 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwest Shoals Community College is located in Muscle Shoals, AL (Small City setting); Fortis College is in Mobile, AL (Midsize City setting).
• Northwest Shoals Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwest Shoals Community College 18:1; Fortis College 31:1.

Northwest Shoals Community College vs. Fortis College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwest Shoals Community College or Fortis College? 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 Northwest Shoals Community College than Fortis College ($3,054 vs. $19,074).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fortis College are 43.9% lower than at Northwest Shoals Community College ($5,607 vs. $10,000).
• Fortis College is 185.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northwest Shoals Community College (about $9,533 more per year; $14,664.00 vs. $5,131.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 62.9% higher at Fortis College than at Northwest Shoals Community College (about $5,663 more per year; $14,664.00 vs. $9,001.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College than at Northwest Shoals Community College (93% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Shoals Community College students is 20.9% larger than aid received by Fortis College students ($8,090 vs. $6,694).

Northwest Shoals Community College vs. Fortis College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwest Shoals Community College or Fortis College? 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 and Northwest Shoals Community College.

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

Northwest Shoals Community College vs. Fortis College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwest Shoals Community College and Fortis College? 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 Northwest Shoals Community College earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Fortis College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,900 vs. $22,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest Shoals Community College graduates have a $76 lower median loan debt than Fortis College graduates ($11,000 vs. $11,076).
• Among borrowers, Northwest Shoals Community College graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College graduates ($113 vs. $114).
• More Northwest Shoals Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College students, three years after graduation. (37% 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.