A-B Tech vs. Surry Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is larger than Surry Community College based on total student enrollment (6,510 students vs. 2,796 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is located in Asheville, NC (Small City setting); Surry Community College is in Dobson, NC (Distant Rural setting).
• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Surry Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College 13:1; Surry Community College 14:1.

A-B Tech vs. Surry Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, A-B Tech or Surry 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 Surry Community College than A-B Tech ($7,020 vs. $11,602).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College are 6.1% lower than at Surry Community College ($12,000 vs. $12,780).
• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is 8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Surry Community College (about $214 more per year; $2,882.00 vs. $2,668.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at A-B Tech than at Surry Community College (about $214 more per year; $9,026.00 vs. $8,812.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College than at Surry Community College (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Surry Community College students is 16.1% larger than aid received by Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College students ($6,931 vs. $5,970).

A-B Tech vs. Surry Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, A-B Tech or Surry 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 Surry 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; Surry Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Surry Community College Aug 2, 2027.

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

How do outcomes compare for A-B Tech and Surry 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 $2,000 more per year than Surry Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,700 vs. $29,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Surry Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former A-B Tech students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 37%)

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.