Mountain Empire Community College
Mountain Empire Community College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Mountain Empire Community College at a Glance
Mountain Empire Community College is a public community college in unincorporated Wise County, Virginia, near Big Stone Gap. It is one of the 23 schools in the Virginia Community College System. The college serves residents of Dickenson, Lee, Scott, and Wise counties, as well as the City of Norton. The first classes were offered in the Fall of 1972. Dr. Kristen Westover became the college's seventh president in July 2017.
Is Mountain Empire Community College Worth It?
There isn't enough publicly available data to calculate a definitive value score for Mountain Empire Community College. This may be due to the institution's size, reporting gaps, or the specific programs offered.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
Best Programs at Mountain Empire Community College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Mountain Empire Community College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $8,852/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in VA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Big Stone Gap, VA
- Student Body
- 1,282 students
- Net Price (Annual)
- $8,852
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $32,622