Degree Dividend
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Alabama A & M University vs Fortis College-Montgomery: which has better ROI?

Public, Normal AL · vs · Private for-profit, Montgomery AL

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Alabama A & M University comes closer — median earnings $40,628 against a $70,484 total, vs $26,652 at Fortis College-Montgomery. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAlabama A & M UniversityFortis College-Montgomery
Net price / yr$17,621$21,006
Total net cost$70,484$84,024
Median earnings, 10 yrs$40,628$26,652
Median debt$31,000$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$225,124-$518,184

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Alabama A & M University or Fortis College-Montgomery?

Alabama A & M University, at $17,621 a year after aid versus $21,006 — a gap of $3,385 a year, or $13,540 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Alabama A & M University or Fortis College-Montgomery graduates earn more?

Alabama A & M University graduates report a median $40,628 ten years after entry, $13,976 more than the $26,652 at Fortis College-Montgomery. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.

Which leaves students with less debt, Alabama A & M University or Fortis College-Montgomery?

Fortis College-Montgomery: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Alabama A & M University, a difference of $21,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

46% of students finish at Fortis College-Montgomery, against 24% at Alabama A & M University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.

Alabama A & M University vs Fortis College-Montgomery: frequently asked questions

Is Alabama A & M University or Fortis College-Montgomery a better value?
Alabama A & M University comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Alabama A & M University or Fortis College-Montgomery?
Alabama A & M University: $17,621/yr net price after aid versus $21,006/yr at Fortis College-Montgomery — a difference of $3,385 a year, or about $13,540 over four years.
Do Alabama A & M University or Fortis College-Montgomery graduates earn more?
Alabama A & M University graduates earn a median $40,628 ten years after entry, versus $26,652 at Fortis College-Montgomery — a $13,976 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.