MECC vs. Centura College-Chesapeake

Comparable Facts

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

Mountain Empire Community College is larger than Centura College-Chesapeake based on total student enrollment (2,116 students vs. 191 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mountain Empire Community College is located in Big Stone Gap, VA (Rural Fringe setting); Centura College Chesapeake is in Chesapeake, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mountain Empire Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Centura College Chesapeake is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mountain Empire Community College 22:1; Centura College Chesapeake 19:1.

MECC vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MECC or Centura College-Chesapeake? 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 Mountain Empire Community College than Centura College-Chesapeake ($9,210 vs. $26,551).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mountain Empire Community College are 47.9% lower than at Centura College Chesapeake ($6,030 vs. $11,581).
• Centura College Chesapeake is 232.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MECC (about $11,630 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $5,007.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.4% higher at Centura College-Chesapeake than at Mountain Empire Community College (about $5,192 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $11,445.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mountain Empire Community College than at Centura College Chesapeake (93% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Centura College Chesapeake students is 5.3% larger than aid received by Mountain Empire Community College students ($6,419 vs. $6,096).

MECC vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MECC or Centura College-Chesapeake? 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 Centura College-Chesapeake and MECC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MECC - Open admission; Centura College-Chesapeake - Open admission.

MECC vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MECC and Centura College-Chesapeake? 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 Mountain Empire Community College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Centura College-Chesapeake graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,300 vs. $25,400), 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.