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Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College vs Louisburg College: which has better ROI?

Public, Asheville NC · vs · Private nonprofit, Louisburg NC

The verdict

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 $34,818 at Louisburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeLouisburg College
Net price / yr$11,602$22,694
Total net cost$46,408$45,388
Median earnings, 10 yrs$36,048$34,818
Median debt$15,528$12,000
Payback
20-year net return-$292,648-$316,228

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Louisburg College?

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, at $11,602 a year after aid versus $22,694 — a gap of $11,092 a year, or $1,020 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 Louisburg College graduates earn more?

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates report a median $36,048 ten years after entry, $1,230 more than the $34,818 at Louisburg 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 Louisburg College?

Louisburg College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $15,528 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, a difference of $3,528. 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 22% at Louisburg 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.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College vs Louisburg College: frequently asked questions

Is Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Louisburg College a better value?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Louisburg College?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: $11,602/yr net price after aid versus $22,694/yr at Louisburg College — a difference of $11,092 a year, or about $1,020 over four years.
Do Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Louisburg College graduates earn more?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates earn a median $36,048 ten years after entry, versus $34,818 at Louisburg College — a $1,230 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.