A-B Tech vs. Central Piedmont Community College

Deciding between Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College and Central Piedmont Community College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Central Piedmont Community College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • A-B Tech Asheville, NC
  • Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC
  • Setting
  • A-B Tech Small City
  • Central Piedmont Community College Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • A-B Tech 6,510
  • Central Piedmont Community College 20,375
  • Type
  • A-B Tech Public 2 Year
  • Central Piedmont Community College Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • A-B Tech
  • Central Piedmont Community College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • A-B Tech -
  • Central Piedmont Community College -
  • Status
  • A-B Tech Non-profit
  • Central Piedmont Community College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • A-B Tech
  • Central Piedmont Community College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • A-B Tech $2,882
  • Central Piedmont Community College $2,792
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • A-B Tech $9,026
  • Central Piedmont Community College $8,936
  • Room & Board
  • A-B Tech $12,000
  • Central Piedmont Community College $11,239
  • Average Net Price
  • A-B Tech $11,602
  • Central Piedmont Community College $4,616
  • Average Grant Aid
  • A-B Tech $5,970
  • Central Piedmont Community College $5,576
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • A-B Tech 100%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 63%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • A-B Tech -
  • Central Piedmont Community College -
  • Admitted
  • A-B Tech -
  • Central Piedmont Community College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • A-B Tech Open
  • Central Piedmont Community College Open
  • Enrolled
  • A-B Tech Open
  • Central Piedmont Community College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • A-B Tech
  • Central Piedmont Community College
  • Typical ACT score
  • A-B Tech
  • Central Piedmont Community College
  • Average High School GPA
  • A-B Tech -
  • Central Piedmont Community College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • A-B Tech -
  • Central Piedmont Community College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • A-B Tech Unavailable
  • Central Piedmont Community College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • A-B Tech
  • Central Piedmont Community College
  • ACT Range
  • A-B Tech
  • Central Piedmont Community College
  • SAT Range
  • A-B Tech
  • Central Piedmont Community College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • A-B Tech Open admission
  • Central Piedmont Community College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • A-B Tech
  • Central Piedmont Community College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • A-B Tech 13:1
  • Central Piedmont Community College 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • A-B Tech
    • Health Professions (30%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (24%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Central Piedmont Community College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • A-B Tech -
  • Central Piedmont Community College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • A-B Tech $31,700
  • Central Piedmont Community College $29,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • A-B Tech 37%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • A-B Tech $14,500
  • Central Piedmont Community College $6,984
  • Median Loan Payment
  • A-B Tech $149
  • Central Piedmont Community College $72

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • A-B Tech 39%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 41%
  • % Women
  • A-B Tech 61%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • A-B Tech Low
  • Central Piedmont Community College High
  • HBCU
  • A-B Tech No
  • Central Piedmont Community College No
  • % White
  • A-B Tech 77%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 42%
  • % Asian
  • A-B Tech 1%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 4%
  • % Black
  • A-B Tech 7%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 30%
  • % Hispanic
  • A-B Tech 7%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 11%
  • % Native American
  • A-B Tech 1%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • A-B Tech 0%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • A-B Tech 3%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 3%
  • % International
  • A-B Tech 2%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • A-B Tech 3%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • A-B Tech 98%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • A-B Tech 2%
  • Central Piedmont Community College 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • A-B Tech No
  • Central Piedmont Community College No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • A-B Tech No
  • Central Piedmont Community College No
  • Meal Plan
  • A-B Tech No
  • Central Piedmont Community College No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • A-B Tech Yes
  • Central Piedmont Community College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • A-B Tech Yes
  • Central Piedmont Community College No
  • Learn More
  • A-B Tech Details
  • Central Piedmont Community College Details

Comparable Facts

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

Central Piedmont Community College is larger than A-B Tech based on total student enrollment (20,375 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); Central Piedmont Community College is in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting).
  • Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Central Piedmont Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College 13:1; Central Piedmont Community College 15:1.

A-B Tech vs. Central Piedmont Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, A-B Tech or Central Piedmont 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 Central Piedmont Community College than A-B Tech ($4,616 vs. $11,602).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Piedmont Community College are 6.3% lower than at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College ($11,239 vs. $12,000).
  • Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central Piedmont Community College (about $90 more per year; $2,882.00 vs. $2,792.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at A-B Tech than at Central Piedmont Community College (about $90 more per year; $9,026.00 vs. $8,936.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College than at Central Piedmont Community College (100% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College students is 7.1% larger than aid received by Central Piedmont Community College students ($5,970 vs. $5,576).

A-B Tech vs. Central Piedmont Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, A-B Tech or Central Piedmont Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Central Piedmont 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; Central Piedmont Community College - Open admission.

A-B Tech vs. Central Piedmont Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for A-B Tech and Central Piedmont Community College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Graduates from Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Central Piedmont Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,700 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have a $7,516 lower median loan debt than A-B Tech graduates ($6,984 vs. $14,500).
  • Among borrowers, Central Piedmont Community College graduates have an estimated $77 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than A-B Tech graduates ($72 vs. $149).
  • More A-B Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central Piedmont Community College students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 28%)

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.