A-B Tech vs. Wilkes Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is larger than Wilkes Community College based on total student enrollment (6,510 students vs. 2,593 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is located in Asheville, NC (Small City setting); Wilkes Community College is in Wilkesboro, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wilkes Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College 13:1; Wilkes Community College 8:1.

A-B Tech vs. Wilkes Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, A-B Tech or Wilkes 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 Wilkes Community College than A-B Tech ($658 vs. $11,602).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College are 2.4% lower than at Wilkes Community College ($12,000 vs. $12,291).
• Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is 12.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wilkes Community College (about $310 more per year; $2,882.00 vs. $2,572.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at A-B Tech than at Wilkes Community College (about $310 more per year; $9,026.00 vs. $8,716.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College than at Wilkes Community College (100% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes Community College students is 40.2% larger than aid received by Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College students ($8,372 vs. $5,970).

A-B Tech vs. Wilkes Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, A-B Tech or Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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; Wilkes Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wilkes Community College Aug 12, 2027.

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

How do outcomes compare for A-B Tech and Wilkes 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 $5,600 more per year than Wilkes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,700 vs. $26,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilkes Community College graduates have a $6,250 lower median loan debt than A-B Tech graduates ($8,250 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, Wilkes Community College graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than A-B Tech graduates ($85 vs. $149).
• More A-B Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilkes Community College students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 34%)

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.