MECC vs. Fortis College-Norfolk

Comparable Facts

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

Mountain Empire Community College is larger than Fortis College-Norfolk based on total student enrollment (2,116 students vs. 399 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

MECC vs. Fortis College-Norfolk Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MECC or Fortis College-Norfolk? 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 Fortis College-Norfolk ($9,210 vs. $24,764).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mountain Empire Community College are 63.8% lower than at Fortis College Norfolk ($6,030 vs. $16,650).
• Fortis College Norfolk is 195.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than MECC (about $9,794 more per year; $14,801.00 vs. $5,007.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.3% higher at Fortis College-Norfolk than at Mountain Empire Community College (about $3,356 more per year; $14,801.00 vs. $11,445.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fortis College Norfolk than at Mountain Empire Community College (96% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fortis College Norfolk students is 18.8% larger than aid received by Mountain Empire Community College students ($7,241 vs. $6,096).

MECC vs. Fortis College-Norfolk Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MECC or Fortis College-Norfolk? 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 Fortis College-Norfolk 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; Fortis College-Norfolk - Open admission.

MECC vs. Fortis College-Norfolk Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MECC and Fortis College-Norfolk? 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 $900 more per year than Fortis College-Norfolk graduates about ten years after starting college ($27,300 vs. $26,400), 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.