North Carolina A & T State University vs Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Carolina A & T State University comes closer — median earnings $44,440 against a $43,384 total, vs $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Carolina A & T State University | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,846 | $11,602 |
| Total net cost | $43,384 | $46,408 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,440 | $36,048 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $15,528 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$121,784 | -$292,648 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, North Carolina A & T State University or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College?
North Carolina A & T State University, at $10,846 a year after aid versus $11,602 — a gap of $756 a year, or $3,024 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do North Carolina A & T State University or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates earn more?
North Carolina A & T State University graduates report a median $44,440 ten years after entry, $8,392 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, North Carolina A & T State University or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: its completers carry a median $15,528 in federal loans versus $27,000 at North Carolina A & T State University, a difference of $11,472. 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 North Carolina A & T State University, 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.