Fortis College-Columbia is a private for-profit institution offering associate degrees based in Columbia, South Carolina. It enrolls 582 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorAccrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
Academic CalendarOther Academic Year
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
58/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes39
Value23
Affordability60
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Fortis College-Columbia generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Fortis College-Columbia isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,404 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,404
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
77%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
72%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$14,777
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,338
Books & Supplies
$1,178
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$9,540
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,793
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$19,599
$30,001 – $48,000
$20,526
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,866
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,778
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,16710%percentile
$6,16725%percentile
$12,547Medianpercentile
$13,82775%percentile
$24,08390%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,500
↓ $3,047
No Pell $10,421
↓ $2,126
Dependent students $7,600
↓ $4,947
Independent students $9,500
↓ $3,047
Female students $9,500
↓ $3,047
Male students $9,500
↓ $3,047
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,334, less than completers ($12,547), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
54% of full-time students who enrolled at Fortis College-Columbia graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
54%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Fortis College-Columbia earn a median of $36,368 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,368
Earning > $25K
60%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$27,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$34,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$26,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$32,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$29,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,100, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 39% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Fortis College-Columbia is home to 582 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 56% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
582
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
56%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 79.7%464
White 12.7%74
Hispanic 4.3%25
Other 2.6%15
Asian 0.3%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Fortis College-Columbia. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityColumbia, South Carolina
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
62%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Other Academic Yearscheduling structure
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
Fortis College-Columbia offers
a focused set of programs:
4 distinct programs across
2 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fortis College-Columbia is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
23:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$49,163
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
10 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
10
100%
$49,163
Pros & Cons of Fortis College-Columbia
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Fortis College-Columbia tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Open admissions
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Fortis College-Columbia is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fortis College-Columbia
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Fortis College-Columbia.
Is Fortis College-Columbia hard to get into?
Fortis College-Columbia has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Fortis College-Columbia?
Fortis College-Columbia has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Fortis College-Columbia cost?
The average net price after aid at Fortis College-Columbia is $20,404 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Fortis College-Columbia worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,368 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,404 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Fortis College-Columbia known for?
Fortis College-Columbia is best known for its programs in Nursing, Medical Assisting, Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Fortis College-Columbia graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Fortis College-Columbia are $36,368, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Fortis College-Columbia accredited?
Yes. Fortis College-Columbia is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
How many students attend Fortis College-Columbia?
Fortis College-Columbia enrolls 582 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Fortis College-Columbia?
Fortis College-Columbia graduates 54% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Fortis College-Columbia a public or private college?
Fortis College-Columbia is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Fortis College-Columbia located?
Fortis College-Columbia is located in Columbia, South Carolina.
What programs does Fortis College-Columbia offer?
Fortis College-Columbia offers 4 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Medical Assisting, Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Fortis College-Columbia?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fortis College-Columbia is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Carolina
Other colleges in South Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Nursing
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