University of North Carolina at Pembroke vs Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of North Carolina at Pembroke comes closer — median earnings $43,407 against a $41,040 total, vs $36,048 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,260 | $11,602 |
| Total net cost | $41,040 | $46,408 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,407 | $36,048 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $15,528 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$140,100 | -$292,648 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of North Carolina at Pembroke or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College?
University of North Carolina at Pembroke, at $10,260 a year after aid versus $11,602 — a gap of $1,342 a year, or $5,368 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of North Carolina at Pembroke or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College graduates earn more?
University of North Carolina at Pembroke graduates report a median $43,407 ten years after entry, $7,359 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, University of North Carolina at Pembroke or Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: its completers carry a median $15,528 in federal loans versus $25,000 at University of North Carolina at Pembroke, a difference of $9,472. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
44% of students finish at University of North Carolina at Pembroke, 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.