A-B Tech vs. Craven Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is larger than Craven Community College based on total student enrollment (6,510 students vs. 3,103 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is located in Asheville, NC (Small City setting); Craven Community College is in New Bern, NC (Distant Town setting).
• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Craven Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College 13:1; Craven Community College 13:1.

A-B Tech vs. Craven Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, A-B Tech or Craven 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 Craven Community College than A-B Tech ($3,596 vs. $11,602).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College are 3.7% lower than at Craven Community College ($12,000 vs. $12,456).
• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is 42.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Craven Community College (about $860 more per year; $2,882.00 vs. $2,022.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.1% higher at A-B Tech than at Craven Community College (about $2,396 more per year; $9,026.00 vs. $6,630.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College than at Craven Community College (100% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College students is 0% larger than aid received by Craven Community College students ($5,970 vs. $5,968).

A-B Tech vs. Craven Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, A-B Tech or Craven 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 Craven 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; Craven Community College - Open admission.

A-B Tech vs. Craven Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for A-B Tech and Craven 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 Craven Community College earn a median of about $900 more per year than A-B Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,600 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Craven Community College graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than A-B Tech graduates ($6,000 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, Craven Community College graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than A-B Tech graduates ($62 vs. $149).
• More A-B Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Craven Community College students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 33%)

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.