Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College vs Catawba Valley Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Catawba Valley Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,977 against a $21,056 total, vs $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Catawba Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,602 | $10,528 |
| Total net cost | $46,408 | $21,056 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,048 | $36,977 |
| Median debt | $15,528 | $4,938 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$292,648 | -$248,716 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Catawba Valley Community College?
Catawba Valley Community College, at $10,528 a year after aid versus $11,602 — a gap of $1,074 a year, or $25,352 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 Catawba Valley Community College graduates earn more?
Catawba Valley Community College graduates report a median $36,977 ten years after entry, $929 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Catawba Valley Community College?
Catawba Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $4,938 in federal loans versus $15,528 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, a difference of $10,590. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, against 35% at Catawba Valley 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.