Mountain Empire Community College
Public certificate school in Big Stone Gap, VA that costs an average of $7,931 a year after financial aid and graduates 56% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$7,931
Acceptance rate
Open
Graduation rate
56%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$36,661
PublicTown (distant)1,282 undergraduates
Cost of Mountain Empire Community College
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $15,508 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $5,154 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $11,667 |
| Books and supplies | $1,780 |
| Average net price after aid | $7,931 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $7,521 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $5,524 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $9,119 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $10,344 |
| $110,001+ | $14,831 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Mountain Empire Community College's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | Open admission (everyone admitted) |
|---|
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 56% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 64% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $35,762 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $36,661 |
| Rank in Virginia (earnings) | 26th of 46 similar colleges |
| Students with Pell grants | 44% |
| Students with federal loans | 0.1% |
Majors and programs at Mountain Empire Community College
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Certificate programs (29)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Trades | 37 | $59,787 | — |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 66 | $35,375 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 210 | $31,588 | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | — | $31,417 | — |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 25 | — | — |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 5 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 43 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 32 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 27 | — | — |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 17 | — | — |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 7 | — | — |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 9 | — | — |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 46 | — | — |
| Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 10 | — | — |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | 33 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 39 | — | — |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | 37 | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 37 | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 23 | — | — |
| Legal Support Services | 10 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 222 | — | — |
| Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians | 10 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 22 | — | — |
| Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Precision Metal Working | 96 | — | — |
| Real Estate | 8 | — | — |
| Surveying Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts | — | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (17)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 89 | $65,501 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 27 | $61,808 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 252 | $27,799 | — |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 12 | — | — |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 19 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | — | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 32 | — | — |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 5 | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 11 | — | — |
| Engineering | — | — | — |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | 40 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 12 | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 22 | — | — |
| Legal Support Services | 5 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 15 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Virginia
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danville Community College | Danville | $4,767 | — | $38,327 |
| Wytheville Community College | Wytheville | $4,056 | — | $37,581 |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | Abingdon | $6,872 | — | $40,088 |
| Rappahannock Community College | Glenns | $5,014 | — | $40,384 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | $5,173 | — | $38,796 |
| Southside Virginia Community College | Alberta | $10,096 | — | $37,707 |
| New River Community College | Dublin | $6,105 | — | $44,648 |
| Central Virginia Community College | Lynchburg | $5,305 | — | $41,066 |
About Mountain Empire Community College
| Type | Public certificate school |
|---|---|
| Location | Big Stone Gap, VA |
| Setting | Town (distant) |
| Undergraduates | 1,282 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 22 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Website | mecc.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
How much does Mountain Empire Community College cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $15,508 a year (tuition and fees: $5,154 in-state, $11,667 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $7,931 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $7,521.
How much do Mountain Empire Community College graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $36,661 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 26th of 46 similar colleges in Virginia.
What is Mountain Empire Community College's graduation rate?
56% of full-time students graduate within 150% of the normal program length, and 64% of first-year students return for a second year.