Career Training Path › Virginia › Mountain Gateway Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
Clifton Forge, Virginia · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 1000 College Drive, Clifton Forge, VA 24422 · Phone: (540) 863-2800 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Mountain Gateway Community College is a public trade school in Clifton Forge, Virginia, offering electrician, LPN, and culinary programs, accredited by SACS and ACEN.
Mountain Gateway's completion rate is 37.7%, below the state average of 57.1%; median graduate debt is $9,182 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $34,293, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Mountain Gateway; the school does participate in Title IV federal financial aid, and 26.8% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | $40,780 | $62,900 | $78,190 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,580 | $64,920 | $74,540 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $43,010 | $63,270 | $77,270 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $42,520 | $59,180 | $65,400 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $36,540 | $45,420 | $50,390 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 35 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | $37,209 | $38,829 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | $38,289 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | $38,289 | 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 Gateway Community College is a public trade and career-training campus in Clifton Forge, Virginia. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and, for its nursing offerings, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and it participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, meaning students can use FAFSA-based aid. Across 8 program families, the campus most commonly awards credentials in electrician schools (35 completers), LPN/LVN programs (12), and culinary & pastry schools (7).
Federal data shows a completion rate of 37.7%, which is below the state average of 57.1%. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $9,182, and median earnings 10 years after entry were $34,293. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 26.8% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of lower-income enrollment. Total undergraduate enrollment is 425, with 62 completers in trade programs.
Given the mix of shorter trade credentials (electrician, culinary) alongside an LPN pathway, this campus may suit both first-time students and adults changing careers, though specific program lengths and schedule formats are not reported here and should be confirmed with the school. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with SACS and ACEN, and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the most current outcome and cost figures before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Mountain Gateway offers 8 program families, most notably electrician schools (35 completers), LPN/LVN programs (12), and culinary & pastry schools (7).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with its nursing program also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, the school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can apply for FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 37.7%, which is below the Virginia state average of 57.1%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $9,182 according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $34,293 per federal 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 (540) 863-2800 or visit its website for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Mountain Gateway is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for in-state residents and eligibility for state funding, though specific tuition figures are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the available data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation with SACS and ACEN, and review completion, debt, and earnings figures on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?231873.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a mix of shorter trade credentials like electrician and culinary training alongside an LPN pathway, which may suit career changers, but specific schedule and format details are not reported here.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements vary by program and are not detailed in this data; contact the school to ask about licensure for specific trades such as LPN or electrician work.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Mountain Gateway Community College at (540) 863-2800 or through its website, https://www.mgcc.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; the College Scorecard link can be used to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in Virginia
- Blue Ridge Community CollegeWeyers Cave, VA · 40% completion
- Staunton School of CosmetologyStaunton, VA · 71% completion
- Rockbridge County Public SchoolsLexington, VA
- ECPI UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · university
- Tidewater Community CollegeNorfolk, VA · 32% completion
- Tidewater Tech-TradesNorfolk, VA · 71% completion
- Advanced Technology InstituteVirginia Beach, VA · 79% completion
- Central Virginia Community CollegeLynchburg, VA · 45% completion
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.