Career Training Path › Virginia › Mountain Empire Community College
Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap, Virginia · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 · Phone: (276) 523-2400 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Mountain Empire Community College is a public trade and career school in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, offering welding, LPN, and EMT programs, accredited by ACEN and SACS.
Mountain Empire Community College has a 48.0% completion rate, below the Virginia state average of 57.1%, and median earnings of $32,622 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Mountain Empire Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid is available, and 43.4% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $42,520 | $59,180 | $65,400 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,580 | $64,920 | $74,540 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $36,540 | $45,420 | $50,390 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $39,760 | $59,730 | $73,440 |
| Dental assistants | $37,720 | $46,670 | $53,040 |
| Medical records specialists | $37,630 | $53,290 | $64,950 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Virginia (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 41 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 27 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | $30,771 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 15 | not reported | $30,771 | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 4 | $39,541 | $36,166 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Mountain Empire Community College is a public community college in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with federal financial aid (Title IV) available to eligible students. The campus awards 11 program types in its trade and career tracks, most commonly welding schools, LPN/LVN programs, and EMT & paramedic training, with 136 trade-program completers among an undergraduate enrollment of 1,282.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 48.0%, below the Virginia state average of 57.1%. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $32,622. Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data, and annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 43.4% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based aid.
This campus, located in a distant-town setting, offers a mix of short-term certificate paths (welding, EMT) and longer clinical programs (LPN), which can suit both first-time students and adult career changers depending on the specific program length — though exact program durations are not stated here and should be confirmed directly with the school. Prospective students should verify accreditation status and review full outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling, and contact the school directly for current tuition, schedules, and admissions requirements.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Mountain Empire Community College offers 11 program types, most commonly welding schools, LPN/LVN programs, and EMT & paramedic training.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, and 43.4% of its students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 48.0%, which is below the Virginia state average of 57.1%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data; check the College Scorecard link for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $32,622, per federal Scorecard data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (276) 523-2400 or visit its website for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for in-state residents and eligibility for state funding, though exact costs are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in this data; contact the school directly to confirm program durations.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can review official outcome data at the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?232788, or confirm accreditation through ACEN and SACS.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The mix of short-term certificate programs like welding and EMT alongside longer LPN training suggests options for varying schedules, but specific program lengths and formats are not detailed here, so adult learners should contact the school directly.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Mountain Empire Community College at (276) 523-2400 or through its website at https://www.mecc.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This data does not include comparisons to other nearby schools; use the College Scorecard to compare completion rates, costs, and earnings across institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in Virginia
- Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAbingdon, VA · 40% completion
- Crown Cutz Academy BristolBristol, VA · career school
- Dickenson County Public SchoolsClintwood, VA
- Lee County public SchoolsJonesville, VA
- Public School SystemAbingdon, VA
- Tri County Driving Academy IncLebanon, VA
- Wise County SchoolsWise, VA
- ECPI UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · university
See all trade and career schools in Virginia or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.