Northwest State Community College vs. Fortis College-Columbus

Comparable Facts

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

Northwest State Community College is larger than Fortis College-Columbus based on total student enrollment (4,082 students vs. 766 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwest State Community College is located in Archbold, OH (Distant Rural setting); Fortis College Columbus is in Westerville, OH (Large Suburban setting).
• Northwest State 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: Northwest State Community College 23:1; Fortis College Columbus 16:1.

Northwest State Community College vs. Fortis College-Columbus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwest State Community College 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 Northwest State Community College than Fortis College-Columbus ($13,914 vs. $26,771).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest State Community College are 43.4% lower than at Fortis College Columbus ($9,548 vs. $16,875).
• Fortis College Columbus is 217.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northwest State Community College (about $10,237 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $4,698.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 62.9% higher at Fortis College-Columbus than at Northwest State Community College (about $5,765 more per year; $14,935.00 vs. $9,170.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Northwest State Community College as at Fortis College Columbus (86% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Columbus students is 41.7% larger than aid received by Northwest State Community College students ($7,836 vs. $5,530).

Northwest State Community College vs. Fortis College-Columbus Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwest State Community College 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 Northwest State Community College.

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

Northwest State Community College vs. Fortis College-Columbus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwest State Community College 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 Northwest State Community College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than Fortis College-Columbus graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,800 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest State Community College graduates have a $3,308 lower median loan debt than Fortis College-Columbus graduates ($9,542 vs. $12,850).
• Among borrowers, Northwest State Community College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College-Columbus graduates ($98 vs. $132).
• More Northwest State Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Columbus students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.