College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Asheville, NC 4,909 Undergrads 33.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$16,063
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,851
After Aid
Median Earnings
$36,048
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,851
Peer Midpoint: $16,832
Earnings (10yr)$36,048
Peer Midpoint: $31,349
Graduation Rate33.3%
Peer Midpoint: 66.3%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients48.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time25.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS54.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$388k
+$63k
-$97k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$376k
+$51k
-$109k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$373k
+$48k
-$112k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-912%
Full Cost$16k/yr
Never
-749%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-1277%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-297%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,004
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$16,963
Lifetime Value Added
-$289k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,437
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,414
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k

Associate's Degrees

Agricultural and Food Products Processing
AssocCIP: 0104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$31,352
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,727
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,819
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,561
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,100
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Hospitality Administration/Management
AssocCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,612
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$15,638
Earnings (5yr)
$33,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,189
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$18,176
Earnings (5yr)
$62,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,356
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.