Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap, VA · Public two-year · Town: Distant
2,015undergraduates
$7,900average net price per year
53%finish in 3 years
70%return for year two
Admissions
Open admission: everyone with a high school diploma or equivalent is admitted.
Majors
32 undergraduate programs that awarded a degree or certificate last year, grouped by field. Numbers are how many were awarded.
Health professions and related programs (9)
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (91 awarded)
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (21 awarded)
- Dental Assisting/Assistant Certificate (1-2 years) (6 awarded)
- Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) Certificate (under 1 year) (13 awarded), Associate (3 awarded)
- Health and Medical Administrative Services, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (8 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (6 awarded)
- Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (12 awarded), Associate (6 awarded)
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training Certificate (under 1 year) (8 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (26 awarded)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse Associate (42 awarded)
- Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Associate (9 awarded)
Liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities (2)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other Certificate (1-2 years) (114 awarded)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies Associate (126 awarded)
Engineering/engineering-related technologies/technicians (7)
- CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (4 awarded), Associate (3 awarded)
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (25 awarded), Associate (7 awarded)
- Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (18 awarded), Associate (21 awarded)
- Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Other Certificate (1-2 years) (7 awarded), Associate (6 awarded)
- Industrial Technology/Technician Associate (5 awarded)
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (5 awarded)
- Mining Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (5 awarded)
Precision production (1)
- Welding Technology/Welder Certificate (under 1 year) (46 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (5 awarded)
Business, management, marketing, and related support services (3)
- Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (14 awarded), Associate (9 awarded)
- Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services, Other Certificate (1-2 years) (3 awarded), Associate (9 awarded)
- Real Estate Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
Mechanic and repair technologies/technicians (2)
- Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (14 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (12 awarded)
- Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (10 awarded)
Homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and related protective services (2)
- Corrections Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded), Associate (6 awarded)
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration Certificate (under 1 year) (13 awarded), Associate (13 awarded)
Natural resources and conservation (1)
- Natural Resources/Conservation, General Certificate (under 1 year) (12 awarded), Associate (11 awarded)
Family and consumer sciences/human sciences (1)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant Certificate (under 1 year) (19 awarded)
Computer and information sciences and support services (1)
- Computer and Information Sciences, General Certificate (under 1 year) (14 awarded)
Legal professions and studies (1)
- Legal Assistant/Paralegal Certificate (1-2 years) (9 awarded), Associate (3 awarded)
Construction trades (1)
- Electrician Certificate (under 1 year) (9 awarded)
Engineering (1)
- Surveying Engineering Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
Cost and aid
- Tuition and fees, in-state
- $4,863
- Tuition and fees, out-of-state
- $10,866
- Books and supplies
- $1,500
- Total cost living at home
- $14,409
Published prices for 2023-24.
| Family income | Per year |
|---|---|
| $0-30,000 | $7,015 |
| $30,001-48,000 | $7,027 |
| $48,001-75,000 | $8,008 |
| $75,001-110,000 | $8,686 |
Net price is the full cost minus grants and scholarships, for full-time first-year students who got aid in 2022-23 and paid in-state tuition.
- First-year students who got any aid
- 92%
- Got grants or scholarships
- 91%
- Average grant or scholarship
- $6,317
- Got a grant from the college
- 42%
- Average grant from the college
- $2,192
- Undergraduates with a Pell grant
- 41%
- First-year students who borrowed
- 0%
- Average amount borrowed
- $5,000
Graduation
- Finished in 2 years
- 31%
- Finished in 3 years
- 53%
- Finished in 4 years
- 46%
- Transferred to another college
- 4%
- Came back for year two
- 70%
| Pell grant students | 49% |
|---|---|
| Neither | 61% |
| Group | Students | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 159 | 52% |
| Men | 122 | 54% |
| Black | 5 | 80% (small group) |
| Hispanic | 5 | 80% (small group) |
| White | 259 | 52% |
| Two or more races | 4 | 75% (small group) |
| Race unknown | 8 | 50% (small group) |
| Started | Students | Earned a degree or certificate here | Enrolled at another college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started here, full-time | 431 | 49% | 8% |
| Started here, part-time | 98 | 22% | 8% |
| Transferred in, full-time | 52 | 42% | 8% |
| Transferred in, part-time | 63 | 21% | 5% |
Graduation rates follow students who started full-time for the first time in fall 2020. Groups under 20 students are marked because a few students change the rate a lot.
Students
- Total students
- 2,015
- Undergraduates
- 2,015
- Full-time undergraduates
- 928
- Part-time undergraduates
- 1,087
- Students per faculty member
- 20 to 1
- First-year students from in state
- 99%
- From out of state
- 1%
- From other countries
- 0%
- Undergraduates age 25 and up
- 23%
- Undergraduates taking all classes online
- 30%
| Women | 61% |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Black | 2% |
| Hispanic | 2% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0% |
| White | 92% |
| Two or more races | 2% |
| Race unknown | 1% |
| International | 0% |
Campus life
- Setting
- Town: Distant
- Address
- 3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA, 24219
- County
- Wise County
- Part of
- Virginia Community College System
- Type
- Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-High Nontraditional
- Highest degree
- Associates
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Offers
- Weekend or evening classes, Online programs, Credit for AP exams
- Open admission
- Yes
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2022-23 to 2024-25 surveys), and the College Scorecard.