Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College vs Coastal Carolina Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Coastal Carolina Community College comes closer — median earnings $36,444 against a $18,922 total, vs $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Coastal Carolina Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,602 | $9,461 |
| Total net cost | $46,408 | $18,922 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,048 | $36,444 |
| Median debt | $15,528 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$292,648 | -$257,242 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Coastal Carolina Community College?
Coastal Carolina Community College, at $9,461 a year after aid versus $11,602 — a gap of $2,141 a year, or $27,486 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 Coastal Carolina Community College graduates earn more?
Coastal Carolina Community College graduates report a median $36,444 ten years after entry, $396 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 graduates more of its students?
49% of students finish at Coastal Carolina 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.