Trident Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia

Comparable Facts

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

Trident Technical College is larger than Fortis College - Columbia based on total student enrollment (13,552 students vs. 582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Trident Technical College is located in Charleston, SC (Small City setting); Fortis College Columbia is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
• Trident Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Fortis College Columbia is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Trident Technical College 21:1; Fortis College Columbia 29:1.

Trident Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Trident Technical 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 Trident Technical College than Fortis College - Columbia ($1,818 vs. $20,510).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trident Technical College are 28% lower than at Fortis College Columbia ($9,600 vs. $13,338).
• Fortis College Columbia is 192.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Trident Technical College (about $9,727 more per year; $14,777.00 vs. $5,050.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.4% higher at Fortis College - Columbia than at Trident Technical College (about $6,157 more per year; $14,777.00 vs. $8,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Trident Technical College than at Fortis College Columbia (93% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Trident Technical College students is 40.3% larger than aid received by Fortis College Columbia students ($10,831 vs. $7,718).

Trident Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Trident Technical 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 Trident Technical College.

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

Trident Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Trident Technical 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 Trident Technical College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Fortis College - Columbia graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fortis College Columbia graduates have a $2,922 lower median loan debt than Trident Technical College graduates ($12,850 vs. $15,772).
• Among borrowers, Fortis College - Columbia graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Trident Technical College graduates ($132 vs. $163).
• More Trident Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College - Columbia students, three years after graduation. (30% 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.