Fortis College-Cutler Bay

This is a commuter campus with 358 undergrads (95% full-time) in suburban Cutler Bay, 20 miles south of Miami. There’s little traditional collegiate culture—no dorms, Greek life, or Division sports. The vibe is utilitarian: students attend class, train in labs, and often work jobs outside school. Flexibility is the selling point, with evening/weekend courses catering to adult learners balancing families or employment. Demographics skew heavily female (84.6% of graduates) and likely local, given the career-training focus and lack of housing.

The 48% completion rate for full-time students signals academic challenges, but those who persist see solid ROI: graduates report median earnings of $37,788 one year post-graduation—above the Florida community college average. The nursing program’s ACEN accreditation suggests employers recognize its credentials, though specific licensure exam pass rates aren’t public. Job placement data isn’t transparently reported, a red flag common among for-profit career colleges.

The net price is $26,089 after aid—steep for a two-year college, though 92% of first-years receive federal Pell Grants (averaging $7,168) and 58% get institutional aid. Unlike elite ‘no-loan’ schools, Fortis appears to rely heavily on federal loans; its website promotes FAFSA completion but doesn’t advertise debt-free promises. Prospective students should scrutinize the ROI: while some grads land solid healthcare jobs, the high cost and middling completion rates demand careful cost-benefit analysis.

Fortis-Cutler Bay’s ACEN-accredited nursing program is its crown jewel, offering a rare associate-degree nursing pathway in South Florida with flexible scheduling. Unlike community colleges with waitlists, its open admissions get students into labs quickly—but the trade-off is higher cost and lower completion rates. For Miami-area working adults seeking fast healthcare credentials, it’s a pragmatic option, though the financial burden (nearly $26K net priceNet priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost.) and opaque job placement stats warrant caution. The recent halt on new enrollments raises questions about its future trajectory.