Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College vs South Piedmont Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South Piedmont Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,308 against a $13,350 total, vs $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | South Piedmont Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,602 | $6,675 |
| Total net cost | $46,408 | $13,350 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,048 | $37,308 |
| Median debt | $15,528 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$292,648 | -$234,390 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College or South Piedmont Community College?
South Piedmont Community College, at $6,675 a year after aid versus $11,602 — a gap of $4,927 a year, or $33,058 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 South Piedmont Community College graduates earn more?
South Piedmont Community College graduates report a median $37,308 ten years after entry, $1,260 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?
40% of students finish at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, against 38% at South Piedmont 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.