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Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College logo

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Public Asheville, NC · Urban · Southeast · 87% data
B- Affordability C+ Value C- Diversity
36%
D
Graduation Rate
Lower completion rate than most colleges
$36,048
C-
Earnings (10yr)
Below average for college graduates
$11,602
B-
Net Price
32% less than the typical college
5,110
Enrollment
Earnings -12% vs avg
Graduation -37% vs avg
Net Price +-32% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 17.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.4 over 20 years.

17.4× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $17.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $760,758.

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What The Data Says

1

A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

2

Graduation of 36% — 37% below the national average.

3

Every $1 invested returns $17.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
5,110
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Culinary & Personal Services

Why students choose Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 54% overall
C-
Earnings
$36,048 median
C+
Value
3.1× net price
B-
Affordability
$11,602/yr net
D
Graduation
36% graduate
C-
Diversity
0.52 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College serves around 5,110 students, making it a solid choice for those looking for a supportive environment where they can dive into practical studies. Here, you’ll find programs in Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Culinary & Personal Services, and Computer Science & IT. Students who thrive here are often those who appreciate hands-on learning and want to make a direct impact in their fields.

Looking at life after graduation, students earn about $36,048 after ten years. This figure gives a good sense of the return on investment for those who complete their programs. While the graduation rate stands at 36%, it’s important to note that many students find their footing through various pathways, which may lead to steady employment even if they don’t finish their degree. The affordability factor also plays into this, making it easier for students to take the leap.

On the financial side, the net price after aid is around $11,602, which is quite manageable. Graduates carry a median debt of $15,528, reflecting a reasonable financial commitment when compared to their earnings potential. This environment tends to suit those who are motivated and ready to engage in their studies, making it a good fit for anyone eager to build their skills and enter the workforce with confidence.

1

Can I Get In?

How selective Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, located in Asheville, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 36%.

Retention Rate 59%
Full-Time Faculty 32%
Faculty Salary (mo) $6,032
Student–Faculty Ratio 14:1
Diversity Index 0.52
First-Gen Students 39%
2

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $9,026 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $11,602 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,491 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $15,528.

$2,882
In-State Tuition
$9,026
Out-of-State
$11,602
Avg Net Price
$15,528
Median Debt
36%
Pell Grant Rate
3%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$11,491
Family Income $0–$30K
$11,720
Family Income $30K–$48K
$11,862
Family Income $48K–$75K
$12,786
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College report median earnings of $36,048; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

$32,630
6 Years After Entry
$34,641
8 Years
$36,048
10 Years
0.43x
Debt-to-Earnings
46%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$32,630 6yr $34,641 8yr $36,048 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

21%
100% (89)
21%
100% (89)
21%
100% (89)
21%
100% (89)

How Asheville-Buncombe Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation36%Earnings 10yr$36KNet Price$12KRetention59%Median Debt$16KPell Grant Rate36%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$12K$30-48K$12K$48-75K$13K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,602/year ($46,408 total). Graduates earn $36,048 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $807,166 in total earnings — a net gain of $760,758 (17.4× your investment). The median debt is $15,528, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 36% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$46,408
Total Cost (4yr)
$807,166
Projected 20yr Earnings
$760,758
Net Return
17.4×
ROI Multiple
$11,602
Cost Per Year
$15,528
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
36%
Graduation Rate
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs below average at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.51 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

0.51
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
0.04
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
9.2%
Volunteering Rate
0.98
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

$6,983,735
Endowment
Total Expenses
$26,238
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, located in Asheville, North Carolina, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 36%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $9,026 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $11,602 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,491 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $15,528.

Is Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College report median earnings of $36,048; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

How Connected Is Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs below average at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.51 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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