Central Alabama Community College vs Fortis College-Montgomery: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central Alabama Community College comes closer — median earnings $33,506 against a $63,984 total, vs $26,652 at Fortis College-Montgomery. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Alabama Community College | Fortis College-Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,996 | $21,006 |
| Total net cost | $63,984 | $84,024 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,506 | $26,652 |
| Median debt | $9,766 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$361,064 | -$518,184 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Central Alabama Community College or Fortis College-Montgomery?
Central Alabama Community College, at $15,996 a year after aid versus $21,006 — a gap of $5,010 a year, or $20,040 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Central Alabama Community College or Fortis College-Montgomery graduates earn more?
Central Alabama Community College graduates report a median $33,506 ten years after entry, $6,854 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, Central Alabama Community College or Fortis College-Montgomery?
Fortis College-Montgomery: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $9,766 at Central Alabama Community College, a difference of $266. 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 33% at Central Alabama Community 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.