Big Sandy Community and Technical College vs Mountain Empire Community College (MECC)

Big Sandy Community and Technical College and Mountain Empire Community College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer diverse educational opportunities to students in the heart of Appalachia. While they share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they also possess distinct characteristics that cater to different needs and aspirations. Big Sandy boasts an impressive 100% acceptance rate, welcoming students from all backgrounds to pursue their academic goals. Mountain Empire, on the other hand, maintains a selective admissions policy, ensuring a highly competitive and academically rigorous environment. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details regarding acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your unique educational aspirations.
Big Sandy Community and Technical College logo

Big Sandy Community and Technical College

Mountain Empire Community College logo

Mountain Empire Community College

Overview

Location Prestonsburg, Kentucky Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Campus setting Town: Remote Town: Distant
College type 2 year 2 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 61.0% 68.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission Open Admission
Application fees
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants
Total number of admissions given out
Admitted students who chose to enroll
Yield rate
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required Not required
High school GPA N/A N/A
Recommendation letters N/A N/A
High school transcript N/A N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $16,142

Out of state: $26,894
In state: $14,385

Out of state: $20,388
Average net price $4,859 $8,803
Tuition
In state: $4,296

Out of state: $15,048
In state: $4,620

Out of state: $9,918
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

96.0%
Average amount $7,803
98.0%
Average amount $5,590
Students receiving federal student loan 16.0%
Average amount $5,587
0.0%
Average amount $0
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
1.0%
Average amount $3,006

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,162
Men 39.3% Women 60.7%
2,079
Men 37.3% Women 62.7%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 1.0%
International students N/A 0.1%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity N/A N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from West Virginia Virginia Tennessee

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Construction Trades
  • Automotive Technology
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Construction Trades
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 19:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 31.6% 44.1%
Dropout rate 53.0% 45.6%
Transferred out 10.7% 3.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,812
  • Year 2: $58,334
  • Year 3: $62,448
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $24,629
  • Year 2: $35,416
  • Year 3: $45,668
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $43,980
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $19,749
  • Year 3: $21,519
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,346
  • Year 2: $18,467
  • Year 3: $17,642
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $16,923
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,999
  • Year 2: $50,161
  • Year 3: $52,521
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,541
  • Year 2: $36,166
  • Year 3: $41,849
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $30,684
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $15,964
  • Year 3: $21,826
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $18,788
  • Year 2: $19,508
  • Year 3: $21,200
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,719
  • Year 2: $35,600
  • Year 3: N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,449
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,047
  • Year 2: $20,824
  • Year 3: N/A

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