Virginia Western Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Western Community College is larger than Fortis College-Richmond based on total student enrollment (6,332 students vs. 502 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Virginia Western Community College is located in Roanoke, VA (Small City setting); Fortis College Richmond is in Richmond, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Virginia Western 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: Virginia Western Community College 23:1; Fortis College Richmond 23:1.

Virginia Western Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College than Fortis College-Richmond ($5,492 vs. $24,719).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Western Community College are 45% lower than at Fortis College Richmond ($6,936 vs. $12,600).
• Fortis College Richmond is 190.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Western Community College (about $10,288 more per year; $15,688.00 vs. $5,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.5% higher at Fortis College-Richmond than at Virginia Western Community College (about $3,850 more per year; $15,688.00 vs. $11,838.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Richmond than at Virginia Western Community College (95% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Richmond students is 18.6% larger than aid received by Virginia Western Community College students ($7,134 vs. $6,017).

Virginia Western Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College.

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

Virginia Western Community College vs. Fortis College-Richmond Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Fortis College-Richmond graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,000 vs. $26,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fortis College Richmond graduates have a $1,986 lower median loan debt than Virginia Western Community College graduates ($10,014 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Fortis College-Richmond graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Western Community College graduates ($103 vs. $124).
• More Virginia Western Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fortis College-Richmond students, three years after graduation. (37% 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.