Spartanburg Community College vs. Fortis College - Columbia

Comparable Facts

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

Spartanburg Community College is larger than Fortis College - Columbia based on total student enrollment (6,653 students vs. 582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Spartanburg Community College is located in Spartanburg, SC (Midsize Suburban setting); Fortis College Columbia is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
• Spartanburg Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Columbia is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Spartanburg Community College 16:1; Fortis College Columbia 29:1.

Spartanburg Community College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spartanburg Community 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 Spartanburg Community College than Fortis College - Columbia ($3,175 vs. $20,510).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spartanburg Community College are 54.5% lower than at Fortis College Columbia ($6,070 vs. $13,338).
• Fortis College Columbia is 137.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spartanburg Community College (about $8,554 more per year; $14,777.00 vs. $6,223.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.8% higher at Fortis College - Columbia than at Spartanburg Community College (about $4,642 more per year; $14,777.00 vs. $10,135.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spartanburg Community College than at Fortis College Columbia (95% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Spartanburg Community College students is 4.9% larger than aid received by Fortis College Columbia students ($8,100 vs. $7,718).

Spartanburg Community College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Spartanburg Community 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 Spartanburg Community College.

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

Spartanburg Community College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spartanburg Community 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 Spartanburg Community College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Fortis College - Columbia graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,700 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Spartanburg Community College graduates have a $9,350 lower median loan debt than Fortis College - Columbia graduates ($3,500 vs. $12,850).
• Among borrowers, Spartanburg Community College graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College - Columbia graduates ($36 vs. $132).
• More Spartanburg Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College - Columbia students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.