Tidewater Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond

Comparable Facts

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

Tidewater Community College is larger than Fortis College-Richmond based on total student enrollment (16,884 students vs. 502 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Tidewater Community College is located in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting); Fortis College Richmond is in Richmond, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Tidewater Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Richmond is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Tidewater Community College 22:1; Fortis College Richmond 23:1.

Tidewater Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tidewater Community College or Fortis College-Richmond? 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 Tidewater Community College than Fortis College-Richmond ($11,876 vs. $24,719).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fortis College Richmond are 18.5% lower than at Tidewater Community College ($12,600 vs. $15,452).
• Fortis College Richmond is 180.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tidewater Community College (about $10,100 more per year; $15,688.00 vs. $5,588.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.6% higher at Fortis College-Richmond than at Tidewater Community College (about $3,392 more per year; $15,688.00 vs. $12,296.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Richmond than at Tidewater Community College (95% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tidewater Community College students is 7.2% larger than aid received by Fortis College Richmond students ($7,648 vs. $7,134).

Tidewater Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tidewater Community College or Fortis College-Richmond? 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-Richmond and Tidewater Community College.

• Tidewater Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tidewater Community College - Open admission; Fortis College-Richmond - Not reported.

Tidewater Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tidewater Community College and Fortis College-Richmond? 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 Tidewater Community College earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Fortis College-Richmond graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,300 vs. $26,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Tidewater Community College graduates have a $514 lower median loan debt than Fortis College-Richmond graduates ($9,500 vs. $10,014).
• Among borrowers, Tidewater Community College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College-Richmond graduates ($98 vs. $103).
• More Tidewater Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Richmond students, three years after graduation. (32% 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.