Pierpont Community and Technical College vs Mountain Empire Community College (MECC)
Pierpont Community and Technical College and Mountain Empire Community College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer diverse educational opportunities to students in West Virginia. Pierpont, located in Fairmont, boasts an acceptance rate of 100%, welcoming all aspiring learners. Mountain Empire, situated in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, maintains a slightly more selective admissions policy with an acceptance rate of 98%. While Pierpont's student body primarily comprises females (62%), Mountain Empire's student population is more evenly balanced, with 52% females and 48% males. Both colleges offer a wide range of programs, with popular majors including Business, Health Professions, and Liberal Arts. To help you make an informed decision about your educational journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two institutions. Explore the table to discover details on acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more, and find the college that best aligns with your academic goals and
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![]() Mountain Empire Community College |
![]() Pierpont Community and Technical College |
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Overview |
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Location | Big Stone Gap, Virginia | Fairmont, West Virginia |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
College type | 2 year | 2 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 68.0% | 54.0% |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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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 |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$14,385
Out of state:
$20,388
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In state:
$17,312
Out of state:
$24,282
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Average net price | $8,803 | $5,956 |
Tuition |
In state:
$4,620
Out of state:
$9,918
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In state:
$3,912
Out of state:
$10,670
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,828
Meal plan:
$4,398
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
98.0%
Average amount $5,590 |
88.0%
Average amount $6,551 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
31.0%
Average amount $4,907 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $3,006 |
1.0%
Average amount $4,935 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,079
Men 37.3% Women 62.7% |
1,596
Men 40.6% Women 59.4% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 1.0% | 3.4% |
International students | 0.1% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | N/A | 100 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | N/A | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Virginia Tennessee | West Virginia Pennsylvania Maryland |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 19:1 | 14:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 44.1% | 29.1% |
Dropout rate | 45.6% | 60.2% |
Transferred out | 3.7% | 6.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degrees)
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services (Associate's Degrees)
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Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate's Degrees)
Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
Culinary Arts and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate's Degrees)
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