Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College vs Salem College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Salem College comes closer — median earnings $44,640 against a $73,108 total, vs $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Salem College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,602 | $18,277 |
| Total net cost | $46,408 | $73,108 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,048 | $44,640 |
| Median debt | $15,528 | $26,649 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$292,648 | -$147,508 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or Salem College?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, at $11,602 a year after aid versus $18,277 — a gap of $6,675 a year, or $26,700 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 Salem College graduates earn more?
Salem College graduates report a median $44,640 ten years after entry, $8,592 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 Salem College?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: its completers carry a median $15,528 in federal loans versus $26,649 at Salem College, a difference of $11,121. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Salem 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.