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Big Stone Gap , VA
Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) is a comprehensive two-year college located in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Established in 1972, MECC has since been committed to providing affordable and accessible higher education opportunities to the residents of its service region. The college offers a range of associate degree programs, certificate programs, and workforce training options to cater to diverse student needs and interests.
MECC's academic divisions cover a broad spectrum of disciplines, including Health Sciences, Business and Applied Technologies, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Students can pursue programs in fields such as nursing, welding, information technology, education, criminal justice, and many more. MECC also prioritizes workforce development by partnering with local industries to provide tailored training programs that equip students with the skills needed to succeed in today's job market.
In addition to academic programs, MECC boasts a supportive and vibrant campus community with various extracurricular activities and student organizations. The college values student engagement and encourages students to participate in clubs, honor societies, and community service initiatives to enhance their learning experience. MECC also offers resources such as tutoring services, a dedicated career center, and a library with extensive collections to support student success. Overall, Mountain Empire Community College is dedicated to empowering its students to achieve their academic and career goals while fostering a sense of community and collaboration.
Located in Big Stone Gap, VA, Mountain Empire Community College is a public two-year college with graduate programs. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 80%. The freshman retention rate at Mountain Empire Community College is 64%.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the essential things about Mountain Empire Community College.
Quick Facts
2,116
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
22:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Discover some important facts about admission policy and requirements at Mountain Empire Community College.
In 2023, the school accepted 2,897 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively noncompetitive.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Mountain Empire Community College was 64% in 2023.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the best fit for you is not a simple task. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Mountain Empire Community College in 2023 was 2,116.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 4% for that year. 789 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 388 male and 524 female full-time students in 2023.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Mountain Empire Community College.
In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 4, while the number of Black American students was 28. 32 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 29 identified with more than one race. There were also 7 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Mountain Empire Community College.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Mountain Empire Community College is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $5,154. Tuition fees were $11,667 for students coming from out of state. If you are an international student at Mountain Empire Community College, you should know that the 2023 tuition amounted to $11,667, as well.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $11,667 | Not Available | $ 11,667 |
| In-State | $5,154 | Not Available | $5,154 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The approximate price of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,780.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
At Mountain Empire Community College, the 2023 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $6,030.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 5,154 |
| Room and Board | $ 6,030 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,780 |
| Total Expense | $ 12,964 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for a number of students. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Mountain Empire Community College, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 260 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $5,918 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
695 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 704. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $4,903,203, and state $885,525.
$1,816
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
178 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2023. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 93 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $617,986. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $114,453 USD.
Majors
Faculty
22:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Mountain Empire Community College was 22:1: that means 22 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 188 faculty members. This number included 90 male and 98 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Mountain Empire Community College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Mountain Empire Community College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some info about social life at Mountain Empire Community College.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
According to recently gathered data, there are 18 open-membership organizations at Mountain Empire Community College. The student organization that has the biggest membership is Merits, followed by Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and Rho Nu (SNAV). Other popular organizations among the students at Mountain Empire Community College are Healing Hands and Phi Theta Kappa.
If you're interested in acting, you have the option to join a drama club.
Student Services
At Mountain Empire Community College, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. All in all, campus life at Mountain Empire Community College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Mountain Empire Community College.
Career Counselling
At Mountain Empire Community College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Mountain Empire Community College is located in Big Stone Gap, VA.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Mountain Empire Community College is 80%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Mountain Empire Community College is 64%.
Contact Information
Mountain Empire Community College
3441 Mountain Empire Road
Big Stone Gap , VA
24219
276 523-2400
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
