Piedmont Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia

Comparable Facts

Compare Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, SC with Fortis College Columbia in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Piedmont Technical College is larger than Fortis College - Columbia based on total student enrollment (5,143 students vs. 582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Piedmont Technical College is located in Greenwood, SC (Distant Town setting); Fortis College Columbia is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
• Piedmont Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Columbia is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Piedmont Technical College 18:1; Fortis College Columbia 29:1.

Piedmont Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Piedmont Technical College or Fortis College - Columbia? 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 Piedmont Technical College than Fortis College - Columbia ($11,476 vs. $20,510).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fortis College Columbia are 18.2% lower than at Piedmont Technical College ($13,338 vs. $16,308).
• Fortis College Columbia is 160.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Piedmont Technical College (about $9,102 more per year; $14,777.00 vs. $5,675.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 113.4% higher at Fortis College - Columbia than at Piedmont Technical College (about $7,854 more per year; $14,777.00 vs. $6,923.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Piedmont Technical College than at Fortis College Columbia (98% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Piedmont Technical College students is 19.9% larger than aid received by Fortis College Columbia students ($9,254 vs. $7,718).

Piedmont Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Piedmont Technical College or Fortis College - Columbia? 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 - Columbia and Piedmont Technical College.

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

Piedmont Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Piedmont Technical College and Fortis College - Columbia? 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 Piedmont Technical College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Fortis College - Columbia graduates about ten years after starting college ($28,200 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Piedmont Technical College graduates have a $2,670 lower median loan debt than Fortis College - Columbia graduates ($10,180 vs. $12,850).
• Among borrowers, Piedmont Technical College graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College - Columbia graduates ($105 vs. $132).
• More Piedmont Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College - Columbia students, three years after graduation. (24% 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.