Guilford Technical Community College vs Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: which has better ROI?
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 $33,934 at Guilford Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Guilford Technical Community College | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,002 | $11,602 |
| Total net cost | $30,004 | $46,408 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,934 | $36,048 |
| Median debt | $14,901 | $15,528 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$318,524 | -$292,648 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Guilford Technical Community College or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, at $11,602 a year after aid versus $15,002 — a gap of $3,400 a year, or $16,404 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Guilford Technical Community College or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates earn more?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates report a median $36,048 ten years after entry, $2,114 more than the $33,934 at Guilford 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, Guilford Technical Community College or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College?
Guilford Technical Community College: its completers carry a median $14,901 in federal loans versus $15,528 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, a difference of $627. 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 31% at Guilford 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.