Head-to-head comparison
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College vs University of North Carolina Asheville: 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 Asheville, NC
University of North Carolina Asheville
- Net price / year
- $12,250
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,030
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of North Carolina Asheville comes closer — median earnings $44,030 against a $49,000 total, vs $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | University of North Carolina Asheville |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,602 | $12,250 |
| Total net cost | $46,408 | $49,000 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,048 | $44,030 |
| Median debt | $15,528 | $20,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$292,648 | -$135,600 |
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 University of North Carolina Asheville?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, at $11,602 a year after aid versus $12,250 — a gap of $648 a year, or $2,592 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 University of North Carolina Asheville graduates earn more?
University of North Carolina Asheville graduates report a median $44,030 ten years after entry, $7,982 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 University of North Carolina Asheville?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: its completers carry a median $15,528 in federal loans versus $20,500 at University of North Carolina Asheville, a difference of $4,972. 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?
54% of students finish at University of North Carolina Asheville, 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.