Florence-Darlington Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia

Comparable Facts

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

Florence Darlington Technical College is larger than Fortis College - Columbia based on total student enrollment (3,522 students vs. 582 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Florence Darlington Technical College is located in Florence, SC (Rural Fringe setting); Fortis College Columbia is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
• Florence Darlington 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: Florence Darlington Technical College 18:1; Fortis College Columbia 29:1.

Florence-Darlington Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florence-Darlington 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 Florence Darlington Technical College than Fortis College - Columbia ($2,772 vs. $20,510).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fortis College Columbia are 5.1% lower than at Florence Darlington Technical College ($13,338 vs. $14,058).
• Fortis College Columbia is 201.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florence-Darlington Technical College (about $9,877 more per year; $14,777.00 vs. $4,900.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 118.2% higher at Fortis College - Columbia than at Florence Darlington Technical College (about $8,005 more per year; $14,777.00 vs. $6,772.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florence Darlington Technical College than at Fortis College Columbia (94% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Columbia students is 1.1% larger than aid received by Florence Darlington Technical College students ($7,718 vs. $7,633).

Florence-Darlington Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florence-Darlington Technical College or Fortis College - Columbia? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Fortis College - Columbia and Florence-Darlington Technical College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florence-Darlington Technical College - Open admission; Fortis College - Columbia - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Florence-Darlington Technical College Aug 16, 2027.

Florence-Darlington Technical College vs. Fortis College - Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florence-Darlington Technical College and Fortis College - Columbia? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Florence Darlington Technical College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Fortis College - Columbia graduates about ten years after starting college ($28,400 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Florence Darlington Technical College graduates have a $850 lower median loan debt than Fortis College - Columbia graduates ($12,000 vs. $12,850).
• Among borrowers, Florence-Darlington Technical College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fortis College - Columbia graduates ($124 vs. $132).
• More Fortis College - Columbia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florence-Darlington Technical College students, three years after graduation. (22% vs. 21%)

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.