Mountain Empire Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 51% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $32,622 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $8,852 B+
- 48% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,282
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years. Net gain: $670,485.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 20% below the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Mountain Empire Community College
Mountain Empire Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,282
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Precision Production
Why students choose Mountain Empire Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,852 a year after grants and scholarships — 48% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,622 ten years after enrolling — 20% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 56% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.82 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Mountain Empire Community College is a solid choice for students seeking a close-knit environment where they can pursue practical skills and academic growth. With an enrollment of 1,282, it’s perfect for those who thrive in smaller classes and want to connect with their peers and professors. Popular areas of study include Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Mechanic & Repair Tech, all designed to prepare students for in-demand careers.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $32,622 within ten years. This figure gives a glimpse into the potential return on investment for those who choose to study here. Many graduates find employment in their fields, which speaks to the effectiveness of the programs. The affordability of attending Mountain Empire is another plus, making it accessible for a wide range of students, especially those receiving Pell Grants, which make up 43% of the student body.
When considering the practical aspects, the net price after aid is about $8,852, which is manageable for many families. While we don’t have specific data on median debt, students typically benefit from lower costs compared to larger institutions. Those who thrive here are often individuals looking for a hands-on education that leads directly to employment opportunities in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Mountain Empire Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Mountain Empire Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, Mountain Empire Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
- Retention Rate
- 64%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 24%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,595
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.15
- First-Gen Students
- 57%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mountain Empire Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Mountain Empire Community College is $11,445, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,852. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,148 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,007
- Out-of-State
- $11,445
- Avg Net Price
- $8,852
- Pell Grant Rate
- 43%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,148
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,064
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,770
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Mountain Empire Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Mountain Empire Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Mountain Empire Community College report median earnings of $32,622, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,368
- 8 Years
- $29,658
- 10 Years
- $32,622
- Earning > $25K
- 34%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (75)
- 28%
- 100% (75)
- 28%
- 100% (75)
- 28%
- 100% (75)
- 28%
How Mountain Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Mountain Empire Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Mountain Empire Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,852/year ($35,408 total). Graduates earn $32,622 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $705,893 in total earnings — a net gain of $670,485 (19.9× your investment).. With a 51% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $35,408
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $705,893
- Net Return
- $670,485
- ROI Multiple
- 19.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,852
- Graduation Rate
- 51%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Mountain Empire Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Mountain Empire Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.36%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 26.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 5.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $43,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.36%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 5.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 26.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $58,422
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,802,015
- Investment Income
- $15,340
Top Programs
The fields Mountain Empire Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 27%
- Health Professions 27% $59,601 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 7%
- Precision Production 6%
- Criminal Justice 4% $23,930 early-career
- Business & Marketing 3% $24,743 early-career
- Construction Trades 3%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Mountain Empire Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Mountain Empire Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, Mountain Empire Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mountain Empire Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Mountain Empire Community College is $11,445, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,852. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,148 after need-based grants.
Is Mountain Empire Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Mountain Empire Community College report median earnings of $32,622, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Mountain Empire Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Mountain Empire Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.36%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 26.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 5.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $43,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Mountain Empire Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Mountain Empire Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Mountain Empire Community College.
- Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro, NC · Close peer45% grad $33,267 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Orange Technical College-South CampusOrlando, FL · Close peer40% grad $33,350 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Isothermal Community CollegeSpindale, NC · Close peer52% grad $33,325 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Arkansas State University-Mountain HomeMountain Home, AR · Close peer47% grad $34,238 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Rend Lake CollegeIna, IL · Close peer62% grad $35,775 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAbingdon, VA · Close peer41% grad $32,681 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Mountain Empire Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Mountain Empire Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note