Contact Information

General Contact

Admissions Office

Financial Aid Office

FINANCIAL AID RATE

96%

STUDENT TEACHER RATIO

20:1

DEGREE OFFERED ONLINE

20

FINANCIAL AID AWARD AVG.

$4,071

Average Grants + Scholarship Aid Awarded to Undergraduate Students

Percent of Full-Time Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid

Percent of Students Paying In-State Tuition vs Out-of-State Tuition

School Map

Welding Program

The welding program at Mountain Empire Community College prepares students for careers as welding engineers, manufacturing engineers, application engineers, sales engineers, and project engineer or manager. The program focuses on applying technical knowledge and skills to join or cut metal surfaces. Program course include: arc welding, resistance welding, brazing and soldering, cutting, high-energy beam welding and cutting, solid state welding, ferrous and non-ferrous materials, oxidation-reduction reactions, welding metallurgy, welding process and heat treating, structural design, safety, and codes and standards. Get more details below including other Virginia colleges that offer welding program.

Learn more by requesting information now!

Mountain Empire Community College

Also known as MECC, Mountain Empire

109 Bridge St., Suite 200, Danville, VA

About Mountain Empire 

Empire Community College, located in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. ECC began operation in 1972 to provide residents of Lee, Scott, Wise, and Dickenson Counties postsecondary education opportunities. The school was established through legislation approved in 1966 by Virginia Assembly to establish statewide education.

As a result the school is one of 23 colleges that comprise the Virginia Community College System.  VCCS operates two year institutions statewide in order to provide quality education and coverage to ensure that all areas in the state have access to education.

Academics

Students will have a variety of program options available to them at Mountain Empire Community College. Academic transfer programs prepare students for entry to a college or university by first allowing them to complete their freshman and sophomore years at low cost and locally then transfer those credits and use them toward a bachelor's degree.

Career programs provide education and training in one of several high demand fields for entry into the workforce as a qualified professional for the purposes of long term employment.

Programs offered include:

Admissions and Financial Aid

Mountain Empire Community College is a public, two year institution, that admits an interested individuals who are at least eighteen years of age or have a high school diploma. Individuals must complete the application for admission, pay all fees, and provide transcripts and test scores if available.

Students are encouraged to meet with a counselor, participate in orientation and may be required to take a placement exam prior to registration. Financial Aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships awarded based on need as determined by the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which must be resubmitted every year.

Students Enrolled in the Welding Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. MECC, Mountain Empire has offered the following programs for students:

  • Less Than One Year Certificate
  • Less Than Two-Year Award

Students by Academic Level (2019)

 Graduates
Less Than One Year Certificate18
Less Than Two-Year Award5

Students by Gender (2019)

 Graduates
Male22
Female1

Students by Race (2019)

 Graduates
White22
Multiple Races1

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Students who have completed the Welding program at Mountain Empire Community College, have entered into some of these more popular career paths listed below:

Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters

Description

Use hand-welding or flame-cutting equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, welders, cutters, and welder fitters employment is expected to grow at a rate of 3.6% from 2014 to 2024

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Description

Set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders employment is expected to shrink at a rate of -18.0% from 2014 to 2024

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Admission Requirements & Details

The information regarding admissions below may give you an idea of the applicants MECC, Mountain Empire accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college or dual credits that may be transferred.

College Credits Accepted

  • Dual Credits
  • Life Experience Credits
  • AP Course Credits
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Academics & Student Services

Student Services

To support students and graduates, Mountain Empire Community College may provide services to students like:

  • Online classes
  • Classes offered on nights and weekends
  • Remedial instructional courses
  • Counseling assistance
  • Employing students to lower education costs