Bishop State Community College vs Fortis Institute-Birmingham: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bishop State Community College comes closer — median earnings $29,916 against a $21,588 total, vs $32,886 at Fortis Institute-Birmingham. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bishop State Community College | Fortis Institute-Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,397 | $25,946 |
| Total net cost | $21,588 | $103,784 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,916 | $32,886 |
| Median debt | — | $12,346 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$390,468 | -$413,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bishop State Community College or Fortis Institute-Birmingham?
Bishop State Community College, at $5,397 a year after aid versus $25,946 — a gap of $20,549 a year, or $82,196 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bishop State Community College or Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates earn more?
Fortis Institute-Birmingham graduates report a median $32,886 ten years after entry, $2,970 more than the $29,916 at Bishop State Community College. 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 graduates more of its students?
36% of students finish at Bishop State Community College, against 34% at Fortis Institute-Birmingham. 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.