Southern Union State Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham

Comparable Facts

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

Southern Union State Community College is larger than Fortis Institute-Birmingham based on total student enrollment (5,063 students vs. 613 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southern Union State Community College is located in Wadley, AL (Remote Rural setting); Fortis Institute Birmingham is in Birmingham, AL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Southern Union State Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis Institute Birmingham is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Union State Community College 21:1; Fortis Institute Birmingham 30:1.

Southern Union State Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southern Union State Community College or Fortis Institute-Birmingham? 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 Institute-Birmingham ($6,924 vs. $25,960).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Union State Community College are 44.4% lower than at Fortis Institute Birmingham ($6,000 vs. $10,800).
• Fortis Institute Birmingham is 204.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southern Union State Community College (about $10,295 more per year; $15,335.00 vs. $5,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 72.1% higher at Fortis Institute-Birmingham than at Southern Union State Community College (about $6,425 more per year; $15,335.00 vs. $8,910.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis Institute Birmingham than at Southern Union State Community College (84% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Union State Community College students is 19.8% larger than aid received by Fortis Institute Birmingham students ($8,948 vs. $7,468).

Southern Union State Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southern Union State Community College or Fortis Institute-Birmingham? 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 Institute-Birmingham and Southern Union State Community College.

• Southern Union State Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southern Union State Community College - Open admission; Fortis Institute-Birmingham - Not reported.
• Typical fall application deadline: Southern Union State Community College Aug 5, 2027.

Southern Union State Community College vs. Fortis Institute-Birmingham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southern Union State Community College and Fortis Institute-Birmingham? 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 $6,600 more per year than Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,400 vs. $26,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Union State Community College graduates have a $3,778 lower median loan debt than Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates ($8,850 vs. $12,628).
• Among borrowers, Southern Union State Community College graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates ($91 vs. $130).
• More Southern Union State Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis Institute-Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 19%)

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.