Head-to-head comparison
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College vs Mars Hill University: which has better ROI?
Option A Asheville, NC
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,602
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,048
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Mars Hill, NC
Mars Hill University
- Net price / year
- $19,910
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,781
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mars Hill University comes closer — median earnings $44,781 against a $79,640 total, vs $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Mars Hill University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,602 | $19,910 |
| Total net cost | $46,408 | $79,640 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,048 | $44,781 |
| Median debt | $15,528 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$292,648 | -$151,220 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Mars Hill University?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, at $11,602 a year after aid versus $19,910 — a gap of $8,308 a year, or $33,232 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Mars Hill University graduates earn more?
Mars Hill University graduates report a median $44,781 ten years after entry, $8,733 more than the $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Mars Hill University?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: its completers carry a median $15,528 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Mars Hill University, a difference of $10,472. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
45% of students finish at Mars Hill University, against 40% at Asheville-Buncombe Technical 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.