Cape Fear Community College vs Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cape Fear Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,654 against a $19,220 total, vs $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cape Fear Community College | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,610 | $11,602 |
| Total net cost | $19,220 | $46,408 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,654 | $36,048 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $15,528 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,340 | -$292,648 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cape Fear Community College or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College?
Cape Fear Community College, at $9,610 a year after aid versus $11,602 — a gap of $1,992 a year, or $27,188 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cape Fear Community College or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates earn more?
Cape Fear Community College graduates report a median $38,654 ten years after entry, $2,606 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, Cape Fear Community College or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College?
Cape Fear Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $15,528 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, a difference of $6,028. 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 34% at Cape Fear 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.