Head-to-head comparison
Fayetteville State University vs Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Fayetteville, NC
Fayetteville State University
- Net price / year
- $7,892
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,144
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Asheville, NC
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,602
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,048
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fayetteville State University comes closer — median earnings $40,144 against a $31,568 total, vs $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fayetteville State University | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,892 | $11,602 |
| Total net cost | $31,568 | $46,408 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,144 | $36,048 |
| Median debt | $22,987 | $15,528 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,888 | -$292,648 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fayetteville State University or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College?
Fayetteville State University, at $7,892 a year after aid versus $11,602 — a gap of $3,710 a year, or $14,840 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 Fayetteville State University or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates earn more?
Fayetteville State University graduates report a median $40,144 ten years after entry, $4,096 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, Fayetteville State University or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: its completers carry a median $15,528 in federal loans versus $22,987 at Fayetteville State University, a difference of $7,459. 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?
40% of students finish at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, against 38% at Fayetteville State University. 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.