Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap, Virginia · Public · 1,282 undergraduates
Of 9 programs with reported earnings, 8 leave graduates out-earning a typical Virginia high-school graduate (about $36,613/yr) and 1 fall short. Another 33 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $8,148 |
| $30k to $48k | $8,064 |
| $48k to $75k | $10,770 |
| $75k to $110k | $11,741 |
| All families (average) | $8,852 |
Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.
Program earnings vs a high-school graduate
| Program | Credential | Median earnings | vs HS grad | Verdict | Median debt | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $42,992 | +$6,379 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $16,029 | -$20,584 | falls short | n/a | n/a |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Associate's Degree | $37,452 | +$839 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $51,574 | +$14,961 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate's Degree | $69,922 | +$33,309 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Associate's Degree | $43,752 | +$7,139 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate's Degree | $58,843 | +$22,230 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | Associate's Degree | $52,159 | +$15,546 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $43,939 | +$7,326 | clears the bar | n/a | n/a |
Access and outcomes: 43% of students receive Pell grants · 48% complete their program.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.