Mountain Empire Community College

Mountain Empire Community College Overview

Mountain Empire Community College is a public, state school in a rural setting in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. MECC was founded in 1972 and enrolls 2,924 undergrads and no graduate students.

There are many ways for students to get involved at MECC!

Interested in music or performing? At MECC you can perform with one of the university's theater groups.

MECC does not have any greek life opportunties.

Planning to play sports? MECC has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at MECC on the Student Life page.

2022 MECC Facts At-A-Glance
Academic Calendar	Semester
Early Decision Acceptance Rate	ED not offered
Early Action Acceptance Rate	EA not offered
In-State Tuition	$4,620
Out-of-State	$9,918
Percent of Need Met	98%
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package	$5,856

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Is MECC a Good School?

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Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how selective an institution is.

Let's take a closer look at these factors to get a better sense of what MECC offers and if the college seems like a good choice for you.

Retention and Graduation Rates at MECC

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It gauges how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Approximately 61% of students who start at MECC come back for their second year of college. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outcomes for MECC Grads

Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school.

Check with MECC directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Tuition and Financial Aid at MECC

Tuition cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

MECC meets 98% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $5,856 a year.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at MECC.

Based on this information, does MECC seem like a good fit? Remember, the best school for one person may not be the right school for someone else! So ask yourself: Is MECC a good school for you?

If Mountain Empire Community College seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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Choose one of the options below to learn more about MECC:

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Where is MECC?

MECC is located in the rural setting of Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

If you would like to see MECC for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take U.S. Highway 23 to Big Stone Gap, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Tri-Cities Regional.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what MECC and Big Stone Gap are like without leaving home.

Considering Colleges in Virginia?

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