Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College vs College of the Albemarle: 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 $33,234 at College of the Albemarle. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | College of the Albemarle |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,602 | $2,253 |
| Total net cost | $46,408 | $4,506 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,048 | $33,234 |
| Median debt | $15,528 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$292,648 | -$307,026 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or College of the Albemarle?
College of the Albemarle, at $2,253 a year after aid versus $11,602 — a gap of $9,349 a year, or $41,902 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 College of the Albemarle graduates earn more?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates report a median $36,048 ten years after entry, $2,814 more than the $33,234 at College of the Albemarle. 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?
40% of students finish at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, against 35% at College of the Albemarle. 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.