Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College vs Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute: which has better ROI?
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 $34,515 at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,602 | $10,810 |
| Total net cost | $46,408 | $21,620 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,048 | $34,515 |
| Median debt | $15,528 | $8,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$292,648 | -$298,520 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute?
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, at $10,810 a year after aid versus $11,602 — a gap of $792 a year, or $24,788 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute graduates earn more?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates report a median $36,048 ten years after entry, $1,533 more than the $34,515 at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute?
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute: its completers carry a median $8,750 in federal loans versus $15,528 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, a difference of $6,778. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
45% of students finish at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, 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.