A-B Tech vs. Cape Fear Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, NC with Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cape Fear Community College is larger than A-B Tech based on total student enrollment (14,082 students vs. 6,510 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is located in Asheville, NC (Small City setting); Cape Fear Community College is in Wilmington, NC (Midsize City setting).
• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cape Fear Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College 13:1; Cape Fear Community College 13:1.

A-B Tech vs. Cape Fear Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, A-B Tech or Cape Fear Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cape Fear Community College than A-B Tech ($9,900 vs. $11,602).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cape Fear Community College are 36.7% lower than at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College ($7,594 vs. $12,000).
• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is 4.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cape Fear Community College (about $134 more per year; $2,882.00 vs. $2,748.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at A-B Tech than at Cape Fear Community College (about $134 more per year; $9,026.00 vs. $8,892.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College than at Cape Fear Community College (100% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College students is 29.7% larger than aid received by Cape Fear Community College students ($5,970 vs. $4,603).

A-B Tech vs. Cape Fear Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, A-B Tech or Cape Fear Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cape Fear Community College and A-B Tech.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: A-B Tech - Open admission; Cape Fear Community College - Open admission.

A-B Tech vs. Cape Fear Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for A-B Tech and Cape Fear Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Cape Fear Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,700 vs. $31,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cape Fear Community College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than A-B Tech graduates ($10,500 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, Cape Fear Community College graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than A-B Tech graduates ($108 vs. $149).
• More A-B Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cape Fear Community College students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 31%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.