Cecil College vs Fortis Institute-Towson: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cecil College comes closer — median earnings $43,952 against a $19,316 total, vs $36,368 at Fortis Institute-Towson. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cecil College | Fortis Institute-Towson |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,658 | $31,549 |
| Total net cost | $19,316 | $126,196 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,952 | $36,368 |
| Median debt | $9,536 | $12,547 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$107,476 | -$366,036 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cecil College or Fortis Institute-Towson?
Cecil College, at $9,658 a year after aid versus $31,549 — a gap of $21,891 a year, or $106,880 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cecil College or Fortis Institute-Towson graduates earn more?
Cecil College graduates report a median $43,952 ten years after entry, $7,584 more than the $36,368 at Fortis Institute-Towson. 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, Cecil College or Fortis Institute-Towson?
Cecil College: its completers carry a median $9,536 in federal loans versus $12,547 at Fortis Institute-Towson, a difference of $3,011. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
44% of students finish at Fortis Institute-Towson, against 37% at Cecil College. 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.