Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Fortis College-Columbia

Fortis College-Columbia's Allied Health program delivers typical outcomes that fall short of better alternatives within South Carolina. While the program produces median earnings nearly identical to the national average ($27,198 vs. $27,186), it ranks in just the 40th percentile among South Carolina programs, meaning 60% of similar programs in the state produce higher-earning graduates.

The debt picture is mixed but manageable. At $10,263, graduates carry slightly more debt than the national median but actually less than the typical South Carolina program ($12,292). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 means graduates can reasonably expect to pay off their loans, though the modest 8% earnings growth over four years suggests limited advancement potential in this field.

The real concern is the opportunity cost. Top community colleges in South Carolina like Spartanburg Community College ($32,200) and Midlands Technical College ($31,912) produce graduates earning $4,000-5,000 more annually—a significant difference that compounds over a career. Given that 74% of Fortis students receive Pell grants, suggesting financial constraints, choosing a program that underperforms state alternatives seems particularly problematic. Your child would likely be better served applying to the higher-performing community college options first, which offer similar training at comparable or lower cost with substantially better earning potential.