Fortis College-Smyrna — ROI, Cost & Payback
Fortis College-Smyrna charges a net price of $23,657/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $94,628. 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-Smyrna does not clear its cost — it ranks #73 of 100 Georgia colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $23,657/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $94,628 | 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 | -$334,468 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Fortis College-Smyrna's own numbers. Net price $23,657 × 4 years = $94,628 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 $94,628 bill in about 9.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Fortis College-Smyrna 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-Smyrna students graduate?
59% finish their degree — 41% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $94,628 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $160,386 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Fortis College-Smyrna expensive compared with other Georgia colleges?
Its $23,657 net price runs $7,982 above the $15,675 median across the 100 Georgia colleges we profile, or $31,928 more across the full degree.