Salt Lake Community College vs Fortis College-Salt Lake City: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Salt Lake Community College comes closer — median earnings $47,867 against a $19,608 total, vs $34,509 at Fortis College-Salt Lake City. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Salt Lake Community College | Fortis College-Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,804 | $27,586 |
| Total net cost | $19,608 | $55,172 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,867 | $34,509 |
| Median debt | $8,003 | $13,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$29,468 | -$332,192 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Salt Lake Community College or Fortis College-Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake Community College, at $9,804 a year after aid versus $27,586 — a gap of $17,782 a year, or $35,564 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Salt Lake Community College or Fortis College-Salt Lake City graduates earn more?
Salt Lake Community College graduates report a median $47,867 ten years after entry, $13,358 more than the $34,509 at Fortis College-Salt Lake City. 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, Salt Lake Community College or Fortis College-Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake Community College: its completers carry a median $8,003 in federal loans versus $13,000 at Fortis College-Salt Lake City, a difference of $4,997. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at Fortis College-Salt Lake City, against 29% at Salt Lake 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.