Ivy Tech Community College vs Fortis College-Indianapolis: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ivy Tech Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,186 against a $29,032 total, vs $34,726 at Fortis College-Indianapolis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ivy Tech Community College | Fortis College-Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,258 | $27,706 |
| Total net cost | $29,032 | $110,824 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,186 | $34,726 |
| Median debt | $10,727 | $13,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$252,512 | -$383,504 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ivy Tech Community College or Fortis College-Indianapolis?
Ivy Tech Community College, at $7,258 a year after aid versus $27,706 — a gap of $20,448 a year, or $81,792 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Ivy Tech Community College or Fortis College-Indianapolis graduates earn more?
Ivy Tech Community College graduates report a median $37,186 ten years after entry, $2,460 more than the $34,726 at Fortis College-Indianapolis. 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, Ivy Tech Community College or Fortis College-Indianapolis?
Ivy Tech Community College: its completers carry a median $10,727 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Fortis College-Indianapolis, a difference of $2,273. 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 College-Indianapolis, against 41% at Ivy Tech 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.