Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Asheville

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Thomas Wolfe HouseThomas Wolfe House · Photo: Abe Ezekowitz · CC BY-SA 2.0
Colleges in and near Asheville

Asheville is home to three colleges, with 7,375 students on campus

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (4,301 students on campus) and the University of North Carolina Asheville (2,891) are inside the city. About 7% of Asheville’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as North Carolina (6%).

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeUniversity of North Carolina Asheville

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Asheville. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
8,172 students on campus
Nearest college
0.1 mi
Asheville-Buncombe Technical
Residents in college
7%
About the same as NC (6%)
Nearest community college
0.1 mi
Asheville-Buncombe Technical · $2,882 tuition
Nearest public university
3.3 mi
University of North Carolina Asheville · $7,501 in-state
Median household income
$71K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Asheville

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 3.3 milesUniversity of North Carolina Asheville admits 92% of applicants. Together they have 7,192 students on campus.A community college 0.1 miles awayAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville: tuition and fees $2,882 a year for North Carolina residents.In-state price at University of North Carolina AshevilleLiving in North Carolina, the University of North Carolina Asheville charges $7,501 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $24,849. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 7% of residentsAbout the same as North Carolina (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Asheville

Two private colleges within 6.8 miles, one public college within 3.3 miles, and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College 0.1 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miAsheville-Buncombe TechnicalUniversity of North Carolina AshevilleWarren Wilson CollegeAsheville
University or collegeCommunity college
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,301 on campus · In Asheville$12knet price40%graduate$36kearningsTuition and fees: $2,882 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of North Carolina AshevilleUniversity or college · Public · 2,891 on campus · In Asheville92%admitted$12knet price54%graduate$44kearningsGalen Health Institutes-AshevilleUniversity or college · For-profit · 183 on campus · In Asheville$29knet price$61kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Warren Wilson CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 797 on campus · 6.8 mi · Swannanoa71%admitted$21knet price42%graduate$36kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Asheville’s median household income ($71,102) falls.

University of North Carolina AshevilleIn Asheville · sticker $21,685$11,570a year
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeIn Asheville · sticker $16,061 · tuition $2,882$11,862a year
Warren Wilson College6.8 mi · Swannanoa · sticker $56,966$21,046a year
Galen Health Institutes-AshevilleIn Asheville · sticker $35,990$35,990a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Asheville: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Asheville-Buncombe TechnicalUniversity of North Carolina AshevilleWarren Wilson College
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College40% graduate$36k earnings$16k typical debt
University of North Carolina Asheville54% graduate$44k earnings$20k typical debt
Warren Wilson College42% graduate$36k earnings$25k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Asheville

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Asheville’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 14%Liberal arts 10%Business 10%Computer science 7%Visual & performing arts 6%Construction trades 5%Everything else 48%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College · 292 graduates a year
$39k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of North Carolina Asheville · 80 graduates a year
$41k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College · 78 graduates a year
$68k4 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchUniversity of North Carolina Asheville · 59 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
English Language and Literature, GeneralUniversity of North Carolina Asheville · 48 graduates a year
$34k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of North Carolina Asheville · 47 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of North Carolina Asheville · 42 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College · 38 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Asheville

Is Asheville a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Asheville residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as North Carolina (6). The largest campus in the city, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, has 4,301 students on campus.

What colleges are in Asheville?

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, the University of North Carolina Asheville and Galen Health Institutes-Asheville are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Asheville, and what does it cost?

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, 0.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,882 a year for North Carolina residents; the federal net price, $11,602, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of North Carolina Asheville cost if we live in North Carolina?

Tuition and fees are $7,501 a year in-state and $24,849 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,219 (under $30,000 income) to $18,786 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Asheville. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →