Southern Union State Community College vs. Fortis College

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, AL with Fortis College in Mobile, AL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southern Union State Community College is larger than Fortis College based on total student enrollment (5,063 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southern Union State Community College is located in Wadley, AL (Remote Rural setting); Fortis College is in Mobile, AL (Midsize City setting).
• Southern Union State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Union State Community College 21:1; Fortis College 31:1.

Southern Union State Community College vs. Fortis College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southern Union State 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 Southern Union State Community College than Fortis College ($6,924 vs. $19,074).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fortis College are 6.6% lower than at Southern Union State Community College ($5,607 vs. $6,000).
• Fortis College is 191% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southern Union State Community College (about $9,624 more per year; $14,664.00 vs. $5,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 64.6% higher at Fortis College than at Southern Union State Community College (about $5,754 more per year; $14,664.00 vs. $8,910.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College than at Southern Union State Community College (93% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Union State Community College students is 33.7% larger than aid received by Fortis College students ($8,948 vs. $6,694).

Southern Union State Community College vs. Fortis College Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southern Union State Community College - Open admission; Fortis College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Southern Union State Community College Aug 5, 2027.

Southern Union State Community College vs. Fortis College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southern Union State 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 Southern Union State Community College earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than Fortis College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,400 vs. $22,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Union State Community College graduates have a $2,226 lower median loan debt than Fortis College graduates ($8,850 vs. $11,076).
• Among borrowers, Southern Union State Community College graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College graduates ($91 vs. $114).
• More Southern Union State Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.