Head-to-head comparison
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College vs Wayne Community College: 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 Goldsboro, NC
Wayne Community College
- Net price / year
- $2,245
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,148
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,048 against a $46,408 total, vs $34,148 at Wayne Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Wayne Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,602 | $2,245 |
| Total net cost | $46,408 | $8,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,048 | $34,148 |
| Median debt | $15,528 | $6,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$292,648 | -$293,220 |
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 Wayne Community College?
Wayne Community College, at $2,245 a year after aid versus $11,602 — a gap of $9,357 a year, or $37,428 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 Wayne Community College graduates earn more?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates report a median $36,048 ten years after entry, $1,900 more than the $34,148 at Wayne 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 Wayne Community College?
Wayne Community College: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $15,528 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, a difference of $9,028. 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?
49% of students finish at Wayne Community College, 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.