Mountain Gateway Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Clifton Forge, Virginia. It enrolls 425 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes39
Value83
Affordability56
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Mountain Gateway Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Mountain Gateway Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $4,861 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$4,861
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
5%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,022
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,460
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,300
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,200
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,565
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$4,393
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,057
$48,001 – $75,000
$5,590
$75,001 – $110,000
$7,859
Over $110,000
$7,152
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,31310%percentile
$2,75025%percentile
$9,182Medianpercentile
$12,58175%percentile
$19,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,000
↓ $2,182
No Pell $5,500
↓ $3,682
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $3,682
Independent students $9,057
↓ $125
Female students $7,600
↓ $1,582
Male students $5,119
↓ $4,063
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,766, less than completers ($9,182), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
27% of full-time students who enrolled at Mountain Gateway Community College graduate within six years, and 64% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
64%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Mountain Gateway Community College earn a median of $34,293 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,293
Earning > $25K
58%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$29,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$35,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,300, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 66% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Mountain Gateway Community College is home to 425 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students, 57% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
425
Part-Time
57%
First-Generation
49%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 79.1%336
Other 6.6%28
Black 6.4%27
Hispanic 5.7%24
Asian 0.9%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Mountain Gateway Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeClifton Forge, Virginia
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Mountain Gateway Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
15 distinct programs across
9 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Mountain Gateway Community College is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,917
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$7.7M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$59,507
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
20 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Associate Professors
4
20%
$69,599
Assistant Professors
1
5%
$61,191
Instructors
15
75%
$56,704
Pros & Cons of Mountain Gateway Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Mountain Gateway Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Mountain Gateway Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mountain Gateway Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Mountain Gateway Community College.
Is Mountain Gateway Community College hard to get into?
Mountain Gateway Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Mountain Gateway Community College?
Mountain Gateway Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Mountain Gateway Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Mountain Gateway Community College is $4,861 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Mountain Gateway Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,293 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $4,861 per year. That's roughly 7.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Mountain Gateway Community College known for?
Mountain Gateway Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Mountain Gateway Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Mountain Gateway Community College are $34,293, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Mountain Gateway Community College accredited?
Yes. Mountain Gateway Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Mountain Gateway Community College?
Mountain Gateway Community College enrolls 425 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Mountain Gateway Community College?
Mountain Gateway Community College graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Mountain Gateway Community College a public or private college?
Mountain Gateway Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Mountain Gateway Community College located?
Mountain Gateway Community College is located in Clifton Forge, Virginia.
What programs does Mountain Gateway Community College offer?
Mountain Gateway Community College offers 15 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Mountain Gateway Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Mountain Gateway Community College is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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