MECC vs. Northern Virginia Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Northern Virginia Community College is larger than MECC based on total student enrollment (56,457 students vs. 2,116 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mountain Empire Community College is located in Big Stone Gap, VA (Rural Fringe setting); Northern Virginia Community College is in Annandale, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mountain Empire Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northern Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mountain Empire Community College 22:1; Northern Virginia Community College 31:1.

MECC vs. Northern Virginia Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MECC or Northern Virginia Community College? 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 Northern Virginia Community College ($9,210 vs. $9,627).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mountain Empire Community College are 52.5% lower than at Northern Virginia Community College ($6,030 vs. $12,684).
• Northern Virginia Community College is 17.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than MECC (about $884 more per year; $5,891.00 vs. $5,007.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at Northern Virginia Community College than at Mountain Empire Community College (about $964 more per year; $12,409.00 vs. $11,445.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mountain Empire Community College than at Northern Virginia Community College (93% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Virginia Community College students is 23.3% larger than aid received by Mountain Empire Community College students ($7,519 vs. $6,096).

MECC vs. Northern Virginia Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MECC or Northern Virginia Community College? 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 Northern Virginia Community College 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; Northern Virginia Community College - Open admission.

MECC vs. Northern Virginia Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MECC and Northern Virginia Community College? 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 Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of about $18,800 more per year than MECC graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 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.