PVCC vs. Fortis College-Norfolk

Comparable Facts

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

Piedmont Virginia Community College is larger than Fortis College-Norfolk based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 399 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Piedmont Virginia Community College is located in Charlottesville, VA (Small Suburban setting); Fortis College Norfolk is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Piedmont 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: Piedmont Virginia Community College 21:1; Fortis College Norfolk 19:1.

PVCC vs. Fortis College-Norfolk Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVCC 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 Piedmont Virginia Community College than Fortis College-Norfolk ($6,710 vs. $24,764).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Piedmont Virginia Community College are 35.9% lower than at Fortis College Norfolk ($10,665 vs. $16,650).
• Fortis College Norfolk is 191.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than PVCC (about $9,729 more per year; $14,801.00 vs. $5,072.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.6% higher at Fortis College-Norfolk than at Piedmont Virginia Community College (about $3,291 more per year; $14,801.00 vs. $11,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Norfolk than at Piedmont Virginia Community College (96% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Norfolk students is 11.9% larger than aid received by Piedmont Virginia Community College students ($7,241 vs. $6,471).

PVCC vs. Fortis College-Norfolk Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PVCC 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 PVCC.

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

PVCC vs. Fortis College-Norfolk Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVCC 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 Piedmont Virginia Community College earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than Fortis College-Norfolk graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,300 vs. $26,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Piedmont Virginia Community College graduates have a $2,505 lower median loan debt than Fortis College-Norfolk graduates ($7,509 vs. $10,014).
• Among borrowers, PVCC graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College-Norfolk graduates ($77 vs. $103).
• More PVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Norfolk students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.