Central Virginia Community College vs. MECC

Deciding between Central Virginia Community College and Mountain Empire Community College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg, VA
  • MECC Big Stone Gap, VA
  • Setting
  • Central Virginia Community College Small City
  • MECC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Central Virginia Community College 3,481
  • MECC 2,116
  • Type
  • Central Virginia Community College Public 2 Year
  • MECC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Central Virginia Community College
  • MECC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Central Virginia Community College -
  • MECC -
  • Status
  • Central Virginia Community College Non-profit
  • MECC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Central Virginia Community College
  • MECC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Central Virginia Community College $5,157
  • MECC $5,007
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Central Virginia Community College $11,595
  • MECC $11,445
  • Room & Board
  • Central Virginia Community College $12,039
  • MECC $6,030
  • Average Net Price
  • Central Virginia Community College $6,827
  • MECC $9,210
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Central Virginia Community College $5,628
  • MECC $6,096
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Central Virginia Community College 72%
  • MECC 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Central Virginia Community College -
  • MECC -
  • Admitted
  • Central Virginia Community College -
  • MECC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Central Virginia Community College Open
  • MECC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Central Virginia Community College Open
  • MECC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central Virginia Community College
  • MECC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central Virginia Community College
  • MECC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Central Virginia Community College -
  • MECC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Central Virginia Community College -
  • MECC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Central Virginia Community College Unavailable
  • MECC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Central Virginia Community College
  • MECC
  • ACT Range
  • Central Virginia Community College
  • MECC
  • SAT Range
  • Central Virginia Community College
  • MECC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Central Virginia Community College Open admission
  • MECC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Central Virginia Community College Jul 30, 2027
  • MECC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Central Virginia Community College 18:1
  • MECC 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Central Virginia Community College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (59%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Engineering (3%)
  • MECC
    • Health Professions (47%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Central Virginia Community College -
  • MECC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Central Virginia Community College $29,000
  • MECC $27,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Central Virginia Community College 48%
  • MECC -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Central Virginia Community College $5,572
  • MECC N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Central Virginia Community College $57
  • MECC N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Central Virginia Community College 42%
  • MECC 39%
  • % Women
  • Central Virginia Community College 58%
  • MECC 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Central Virginia Community College Medium
  • MECC Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • Central Virginia Community College No
  • MECC No
  • % White
  • Central Virginia Community College 69%
  • MECC 95%
  • % Asian
  • Central Virginia Community College 1%
  • MECC 0%
  • % Black
  • Central Virginia Community College 22%
  • MECC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Central Virginia Community College 3%
  • MECC 1%
  • % Native American
  • Central Virginia Community College 0%
  • MECC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Central Virginia Community College 0%
  • MECC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Central Virginia Community College 4%
  • MECC 1%
  • % International
  • Central Virginia Community College 1%
  • MECC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Central Virginia Community College 1%
  • MECC 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Central Virginia Community College 100%
  • MECC 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Central Virginia Community College 0%
  • MECC 2%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Central Virginia Community College No
  • MECC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Central Virginia Community College No
  • MECC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Central Virginia Community College No
  • MECC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Central Virginia Community College Yes
  • MECC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Central Virginia Community College No
  • MECC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, VA with Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Virginia Community College is larger than MECC based on total student enrollment (3,481 students vs. 2,116 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Virginia Community College is located in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting); Mountain Empire Community College is in Big Stone Gap, VA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Central Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mountain Empire Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Virginia Community College 18:1; Mountain Empire Community College 22:1.

Central Virginia Community College vs. MECC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Virginia Community College or MECC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Virginia Community College than MECC ($6,827 vs. $9,210).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mountain Empire Community College are 49.9% lower than at Central Virginia Community College ($6,030 vs. $12,039).
  • Central Virginia Community College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MECC (about $150 more per year; $5,157.00 vs. $5,007.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Central Virginia Community College than at Mountain Empire Community College (about $150 more per year; $11,595.00 vs. $11,445.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mountain Empire Community College than at Central Virginia Community College (93% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mountain Empire Community College students is 8.3% larger than aid received by Central Virginia Community College students ($6,096 vs. $5,628).

Central Virginia Community College vs. MECC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Virginia Community College or MECC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MECC and Central Virginia Community College.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Central Virginia Community College - Open admission; MECC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Central Virginia Community College Jul 30, 2027.

Central Virginia Community College vs. MECC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Virginia Community College and MECC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Central Virginia Community College earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than MECC graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,000 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.