Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap, VA · Highest award: Associate's
Read the years, not just the numbers
Each figure below is labelled with the period it covers, because they are not all from the same year. Tuition is Academic year 2024-25, while the earnings figure describes students who entered Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars. They are historical facts about this institution, not a quote for you.
What it actually costs
Net price is what students paid after grant and scholarship aid — usually far below the sticker price.
Average net price by family income
Academic year 2023-24
| $0–30,000 | 8,148 | |
|---|---|---|
| $30,001–48,000 | 8,064 | |
| $48,001–75,000 | 10,770 | |
| $75,001–110,000 | 11,741 |
Figures are U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard data for Academic year 2023-24, published by the U.S. federal government. They are historical reference values, not a quote, and not an offer. Your actual cost will depend on your own circumstances.
Outcomes
Historical results for students who attended. They do not predict your own.
Compared with a high-school graduate
Students here earned a median of $32,622 ten years after entering, against a national benchmark for high-school graduates of $36,082. That benchmark is 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, 2024 dollars.
Admissions and size
Many institutions do not report these — “Not reported” is not a zero.
Student body
Fall 2024
| White | 92% | |
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 2% | |
| Black | 3% | |
| Asian | 0% | |
| Two or more races | 2% | |
| Nonresident / international | 0% |
Other Two-year institutions in VA
| Institution | Net price | Grad rate | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Technology Institute | Not reported | Not reported | $46,342 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas | Not reported | Not reported | $46,441 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk | Not reported | Not reported | $44,173 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | $13,997 | Not reported | $42,644 |
| Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging | Not reported | Not reported | $65,432 |
| Brightpoint Community College | $5,490 | Not reported | $41,223 |
| Central Virginia Community College | $6,928 | Not reported | $36,627 |
| Centura College-Norfolk | Not reported | Not reported | $25,930 |
| Chester Career College | Not reported | Not reported | $32,650 |
| Columbia College | Not reported | Not reported | $22,160 |
| Danville Community College | $6,669 | Not reported | $31,664 |
| Eastern Shore Community College | $2,495 | Not reported | $32,418 |
Earnings by field of study
Four years after graduation, by programme. Compare each against the national median for that field.
| Programme | Median earnings (4 yr) | National median | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $69,922 | $80,813 | $7,475 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | $58,843 | $65,389 | Not reported |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | $52,159 | $73,593 | Not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | $51,574 | $56,073 | Not reported |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | $43,939 | $43,365 | $10,250 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | $43,752 | $46,706 | Not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | $42,992 | $57,584 | Not reported |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | $37,452 | $44,125 | $9,384 |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians. | Not reported | $55,148 | Not reported |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | Not reported | $57,294 | Not reported |
| Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians. | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | Not reported | $53,359 | Not reported |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | Not reported | $55,895 | Not reported |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | Not reported | $31,135 | Not reported |
| Legal Support Services. | Not reported | $49,747 | Not reported |
| Legal Support Services. | Not reported | $44,669 | Not reported |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Not reported | $44,906 | Not reported |
| Physical Science Technologies/Technicians. | Not reported | $68,527 | Not reported |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Construction Trades, General. | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10) — https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/ · Data last updated 2026-06-10