Laurel Ridge Community College vs. MECC

Comparable Facts

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

Laurel Ridge Community College is larger than MECC based on total student enrollment (5,902 students vs. 2,116 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Laurel Ridge Community College is located in Middletown, VA (Rural Fringe setting); Mountain Empire Community College is in Big Stone Gap, VA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Laurel Ridge 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: Laurel Ridge Community College 28:1; Mountain Empire Community College 22:1.

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. MECC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laurel Ridge 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 Laurel Ridge Community College than MECC ($6,411 vs. $9,210).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mountain Empire Community College are 39.5% lower than at Laurel Ridge Community College ($6,030 vs. $9,970).
• Laurel Ridge Community College is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MECC (about $65 more per year; $5,072.00 vs. $5,007.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at Laurel Ridge Community College than at Mountain Empire Community College (about $65 more per year; $11,510.00 vs. $11,445.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mountain Empire Community College than at Laurel Ridge Community College (93% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mountain Empire Community College students is 9.6% larger than aid received by Laurel Ridge Community College students ($6,096 vs. $5,563).

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. MECC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Laurel Ridge 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 Laurel Ridge Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Laurel Ridge Community College - Open admission; MECC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Laurel Ridge Community College Jul 27, 2027.

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. MECC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Laurel Ridge 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 Laurel Ridge Community College earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than MECC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,600 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.