MECC vs. Virginia Western Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Western Community College is larger than MECC based on total student enrollment (6,332 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); Virginia Western Community College is in Roanoke, VA (Small City setting).
• Mountain Empire Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Virginia Western Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mountain Empire Community College 22:1; Virginia Western Community College 23:1.

MECC vs. Virginia Western Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MECC or Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College than MECC ($5,492 vs. $9,210).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mountain Empire Community College are 13.1% lower than at Virginia Western Community College ($6,030 vs. $6,936).
• Virginia Western Community College is 7.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MECC (about $393 more per year; $5,400.00 vs. $5,007.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.4% higher at Virginia Western Community College than at Mountain Empire Community College (about $393 more per year; $11,838.00 vs. $11,445.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mountain Empire Community College than at Virginia Western Community College (93% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mountain Empire Community College students is 1.3% larger than aid received by Virginia Western Community College students ($6,096 vs. $6,017).

MECC vs. Virginia Western Community College Admissions comparison

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

MECC vs. Virginia Western Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MECC and Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than MECC graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,000 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.