MECC vs. VHCC

Mountain Empire Community College and Virginia Highlands Community College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Mountain Empire Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: VHCC. Average net price is $6,065 vs $9,210 at MECC.
  • Earnings 10 years out: MECC $27,300 vs VHCC $27,700 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Mountain Empire Community College Virginia Highlands Community College
Acceptance rate
MECC-
VHCC-
SAT range (middle 50%)
MECC-
VHCC-
Average net price
VHCC $3,145 less
MECC$9,210
VHCC$6,065
In-state tuition
MECC $15 less
MECC$5,007
VHCC$5,022
Out-of-state tuition
MECC $15 less
MECC$11,445
VHCC$11,460
Graduation rate
MECC-
VHCC-
Median earnings (10 years)
VHCC +$400
MECC$27,300
VHCC$27,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at MECC and VHCC with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at MECC Check my chances at VHCC
  • Applied
  • MECC -
  • VHCC -
  • Admitted
  • MECC -
  • VHCC -
  • Acceptance rate
  • MECC Open
  • VHCC Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • MECC Open
  • VHCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • MECC
  • VHCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • MECC
  • VHCC
  • Average high school GPA
  • MECC -
  • VHCC -
  • Typical high school grades
  • MECC -
  • VHCC -
  • Admissions standards
  • MECC Unavailable
  • VHCC Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • MECC
  • VHCC
  • SAT range
  • MECC
  • VHCC
  • ACT range
  • MECC
  • VHCC
  • Submit test scores
  • MECC Open admission
  • VHCC Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • MECC
  • VHCC
  • Tuition (in state)
  • MECC $5,007
  • VHCC $5,022
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • MECC $11,445
  • VHCC $11,460
  • Room & board
  • MECC $6,030
  • VHCC $4,150
  • Average net price
  • MECC $9,210
  • VHCC $6,065
  • Average grant aid
  • MECC $6,096
  • VHCC $6,749
  • % receiving grant aid
  • MECC 93%
  • VHCC 79%
  • Graduation rate
  • MECC -
  • VHCC -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • MECC $27,300
  • VHCC $27,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • MECC -
  • VHCC -
  • Median student loan debt
  • MECC N/A
  • VHCC N/A
  • Median loan payment
  • MECC N/A
  • VHCC N/A
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • MECC 22:1
  • VHCC 17:1
  • Popular majors
  • MECC
    • Health Professions (47%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
  • VHCC
    • Health Professions (30%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (28%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (10%)
    • Construction Trades (9%)
    • Business (8%)
  • Location
  • MECC Big Stone Gap, VA
  • VHCC Abingdon, VA
  • Setting
  • MECC Rural Fringe
  • VHCC Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • MECC 2,116
  • VHCC 2,082
  • Type
  • MECC Public 2 Year
  • VHCC Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • MECC
  • VHCC

Comparable Facts

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

Mountain Empire Community College is larger than VHCC based on total student enrollment (2,116 students vs. 2,082 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mountain Empire Community College is located in Big Stone Gap, VA (Rural Fringe setting); Virginia Highlands Community College is in Abingdon, VA (Town Fringe setting).
  • Mountain Empire Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Virginia Highlands Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mountain Empire Community College 22:1; Virginia Highlands Community College 17:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Highlands Community College are 31.2% lower than at Mountain Empire Community College ($4,150 vs. $6,030).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at VHCC than at Mountain Empire Community College (about $15 more per year; $11,460 vs. $11,445).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mountain Empire Community College than at Virginia Highlands Community College (93% vs. 79%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Highlands Community College students is 10.7% larger than aid received by Mountain Empire Community College students ($6,749 vs. $6,096).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both MECC and VHCC.

Loans and repayment

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Mountain Empire Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges