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

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

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Montreat College comes closer — median earnings $45,151 against a $108,244 total, vs $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeMontreat College
Net price / yr$11,602$27,061
Total net cost$46,408$108,244
Median earnings, 10 yrs$36,048$45,151
Median debt$15,528$25,813
Payback
20-year net return-$292,648-$172,424

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

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

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, at $11,602 a year after aid versus $27,061 — a gap of $15,459 a year, or $61,836 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 Montreat College graduates earn more?

Montreat College graduates report a median $45,151 ten years after entry, $9,103 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 Montreat College?

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: its completers carry a median $15,528 in federal loans versus $25,813 at Montreat College, a difference of $10,285. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

50% of students finish at Montreat 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.

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

Is Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Montreat College a better value?
Montreat 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 Montreat College?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: $11,602/yr net price after aid versus $27,061/yr at Montreat College — a difference of $15,459 a year, or about $61,836 over four years.
Do Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Montreat College graduates earn more?
Montreat College graduates earn a median $45,151 ten years after entry, versus $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College — a $9,103 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.