Fortis College-Columbus — ROI, Cost & Payback
Fortis College-Columbus charges a net price of $27,708/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $110,832. Median earnings ten years after entry are $36,368, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Fortis College-Columbus does not clear its cost — it ranks #123 of 144 Ohio colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $27,708/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $110,832 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $36,368 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$11,992/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,547 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$350,672 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Fortis College-Columbus's own numbers. Net price $27,708 × 4 years = $110,832 total. Median earnings $36,368 fall $11,992 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $110,832 bill in about 11.1 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Fortis College-Columbus students graduate with?
A median $12,547 in federal loans among completers, or 35% of the $36,368 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Fortis College-Columbus students graduate?
40% finish their degree — 60% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $110,832 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $277,080 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Fortis College-Columbus expensive compared with other Ohio colleges?
Its $27,708 net price runs $7,926 above the $19,783 median across the 144 Ohio colleges we profile, or $31,702 more across the full degree.