A-B Tech vs. Southwestern Community College

Deciding between Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College and Southwestern 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.

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • A-B Tech Asheville, NC
  • Southwestern Community College Sylva, NC
  • Setting
  • A-B Tech Small City
  • Southwestern Community College Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • A-B Tech 6,510
  • Southwestern Community College 2,157
  • Type
  • A-B Tech Public 2 Year
  • Southwestern Community College Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • A-B Tech
  • Southwestern Community College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • A-B Tech -
  • Southwestern Community College -
  • Status
  • A-B Tech Non-profit
  • Southwestern Community College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • A-B Tech
  • Southwestern Community College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • A-B Tech $2,882
  • Southwestern Community College $4,112
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • A-B Tech $9,026
  • Southwestern Community College $13,184
  • Room & Board
  • A-B Tech $12,000
  • Southwestern Community College $13,050
  • Average Net Price
  • A-B Tech $11,602
  • Southwestern Community College $6,176
  • Average Grant Aid
  • A-B Tech $5,970
  • Southwestern Community College $10,024
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • A-B Tech 100%
  • Southwestern Community College 80%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • A-B Tech 13:1
  • Southwestern Community College 10:1
  • 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%)
  • Southwestern Community College
    • Health Professions (31%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (31%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • A-B Tech -
  • Southwestern Community College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • A-B Tech $31,700
  • Southwestern Community College $27,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • A-B Tech 37%
  • Southwestern Community College 36%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • A-B Tech $14,500
  • Southwestern Community College $10,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • A-B Tech $149
  • Southwestern Community College $111

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • A-B Tech 39%
  • Southwestern Community College 36%
  • % Women
  • A-B Tech 61%
  • Southwestern Community College 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • A-B Tech Low
  • Southwestern Community College Low
  • HBCU
  • A-B Tech No
  • Southwestern Community College No
  • % White
  • A-B Tech 77%
  • Southwestern Community College 79%
  • % Asian
  • A-B Tech 1%
  • Southwestern Community College 1%
  • % Black
  • A-B Tech 7%
  • Southwestern Community College 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • A-B Tech 7%
  • Southwestern Community College 5%
  • % Native American
  • A-B Tech 1%
  • Southwestern Community College 9%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • A-B Tech 0%
  • Southwestern Community College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • A-B Tech 3%
  • Southwestern Community College 2%
  • % International
  • A-B Tech 2%
  • Southwestern Community College 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • A-B Tech 3%
  • Southwestern Community College 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • A-B Tech 98%
  • Southwestern Community College 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • A-B Tech 2%
  • Southwestern Community College 4%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • A-B Tech No
  • Southwestern Community College No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • A-B Tech No
  • Southwestern Community College No
  • Meal Plan
  • A-B Tech No
  • Southwestern Community College No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • A-B Tech Yes
  • Southwestern Community College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • A-B Tech Yes
  • Southwestern Community College No

Comparable Facts

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

Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is larger than Southwestern Community College based on total student enrollment (6,510 students vs. 2,157 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is located in Asheville, NC (Small City setting); Southwestern Community College is in Sylva, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College 13:1; Southwestern Community College 10:1.

A-B Tech vs. Southwestern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, A-B Tech or Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College than A-B Tech ($6,176 vs. $11,602).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College are 8% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($12,000 vs. $13,050).
  • Southwestern Community College is 42.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than A-B Tech (about $1,230 more per year; $4,112.00 vs. $2,882.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.1% higher at Southwestern Community College than at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College (about $4,158 more per year; $13,184.00 vs. $9,026.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College than at Southwestern Community College (100% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 67.9% larger than aid received by Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College students ($10,024 vs. $5,970).

A-B Tech vs. Southwestern Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

How do outcomes compare for A-B Tech and Southwestern 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 $4,500 more per year than Southwestern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,700 vs. $27,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Community College graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than A-B Tech graduates ($10,750 vs. $14,500).
  • Among borrowers, Southwestern Community College graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than A-B Tech graduates ($111 vs. $149).
  • More A-B Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern Community College students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 36%)

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.