Best Community Colleges in Nevada 2025

Badge for BEST IN NEVADA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Jenn Finley
Published:
Updated:

Key Takeaways

  • Five schools in Nevada meet our criteria for the best community colleges in the state.
  • Community colleges offer more affordable tuition rates than a traditional four-year college.
  • Graduates with an associate degree can often transfer their credits into an accredited bachelor’s degree program.

Best Community Colleges in Nevada in 2025

  1. College of Southern Nevada
  2. Great Basin College
  3. Truckee Meadows Community College
  4. Western Nevada College
  5. Las Vegas College

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

There are no changes to our ranking of the best community colleges in Nevada for 2025. This was a result of all the schools in the ranking making similar improvements to their curriculum, internship opportunities, and other program features.

The best community colleges offer an accessible intro into higher education, with high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Nevada offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.

Colleges and Universities in Nevada

Nevada has numerous excellent and highly respected community colleges. Many of these top Nevada schools are noted for their affordability as well.

Students attending community colleges in Nevada can earn an associate degree in popular subjects like business management, health services administration, health sciences, and criminal justice. Nevada is also noted for an extensive technical college system, where students can pursue a wide range of on-campus and online degree programs. The average tuition for a year at one of Nevada’s five community colleges is $4,000.

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What are Nevada’s Colleges & Universities?

Nevada’s Best Overall

We’ve identified 5 community colleges in Nevada. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Nevada.

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Best Community Colleges in Nevada

  1. #1

    College of Southern Nevada

    Las Vegas , NV
    #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nevada 2025 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Nevada 2024 #3 Best Public Colleges in Nevada 2024 #3 Best Colleges in Nevada 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    17%

    Student body

    40K

    Career Outlook for degree at College of Southern Nevada

    Cost of Degree: $4,110
    Starting Salary: $37,400
    What is College of Southern Nevada known for?

    College of Southern Nevada’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    With various campuses and learning centers, the College of Southern Nevada is an ideal institution for students looking to grow and reach their academic goals. Explore various interests and join student clubs such as the Electronic Gaming Genesis Club and the Latino Student Alliance.

    What we love about the College of Southern Nevada:

    The school assists students looking for federal aid by organizing workshops and integrating to-do lists to ensure a smooth application process.

    College of Southern Nevada is ideal for students who:

    Want to be involved in sports or cheer for the school’s teams.

    College of Southern Nevada might not be the best fit for students who:

    Prefer not to join campus events.

    Popular Programs:

    • Graphic Communications
    • Accounting
    • Aviation Technology

    College of Southern Nevada’s Online Degrees

    BAS in Project Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Fire And Emergency Services Administration
    • Required Credits: 121
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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  2. #2

    Great Basin College

    Elko , NV
    #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nevada 2025 #4 Best Small Colleges in Nevada 2024 #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Nevada 2024 #6 Best Public Colleges in Nevada 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    48%

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for degree at Great Basin College

    Cost of Degree: $3,855
    Expenses: $11,570
    Starting Salary: $37,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Great Basin College known for?

    Great Basin College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Offering both online and on-campus education, Great Basin College is suitable for both full-time and part-time learners. Here, students can select from different academic paths, choosing from Bachelor’s, associate’s, or certificate programs.

    What we love about Great Basin College:

    Students are set to graduate earlier by transferring up to 30 credits, which may be earned from their previous work experience or military training.

    Great Basin College is ideal for students who:

    Are planning to take up dual degree programs.

    Great Basin College might not be the best fit for students who:

    Are looking for more technical training certificates.

    Popular Programs:

    • Business Administration
    • Computer Technologies
    • Human Services

    Great Basin College’s Online Degrees

    BAS in Management And Supervision
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Digital Information Technology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in English
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Land Surveying/Geomatics
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Social Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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  3. #3

    Truckee Meadows Community College

    Reno , NV
    #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Nevada #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Nevada 2025 #4 Best Online Colleges in Nevada 2024 #11 Best Online Associate in Anthropology
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    26%

    Student body

    13K

    Career Outlook for degree at Truckee Meadows Community College

    Cost of Degree: $3,144
    Starting Salary: $38,000
    What is Truckee Meadows Community College known for?

    Truckee Meadows Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Through community partnerships, Truckee Meadows Community College offers a variety of programs and workforce training designed for student success. The school offers various support services, including academic coaching, counseling, and online technical assistance.

    What we love about Truckee Meadows Community College:

    Students struggling with coursework on subjects such as Mathematics, Chemistry, and Writing, may avail of the college’s free tutorial services.

    Truckee Meadows Community College is ideal for students who:

    Are looking for job options, either part-time on-campus positions or paid community service.

    Truckee Meadows Community College might not be the best fit for students who:

    Are looking for on-campus housing options.

    Popular Programs:

    • Information Technology
    • Logistics Management
    • Political Science

    Truckee Meadows Community College’s Online Degrees

    BS in Emergency Management And Homeland Security
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  4. #4

    Western Nevada College

    Carson City , NV
    #2 Best Small Colleges in Nevada 2024 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nevada 2025 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Nevada 2024 #5 Best Public Colleges in Nevada 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    34%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for degree at Western Nevada College

    Cost of Degree: $3,920
    Starting Salary: $35,800
    What is Western Nevada College known for?

    Western Nevada College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    The school offers certification programs in technical fields, like automotive technology and construction, that may be finished in as fast as eight weeks.

    Western Nevada College is ideal for students who:

    Want to avail of Federal Grants or school scholarships.

    Western Nevada College might not be the best fit for students who:

    Are looking for more program specializations in an education program.

    Popular Programs:

    • Cybersecurity
    • Emergency Medicine
    • Construction Management

    Western Nevada College’s Online Degrees

    BAS in Construction Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BAS in Organization And Project Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Construction
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    Compare school
  6. #5

    Las Vegas College

    Las Vegas , NV

    Tuition + fees

    $17K

    Graduation

    65%

    Student body

    <1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Las Vegas College

    Cost of Degree: $16,188
    Starting Salary: $29,300
    What is Las Vegas College known for?

    Las Vegas College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Before its closure, Las Vegas College was integrated into the Everest College system, opening its doors to more students. Through its capable instructors, the college supported its students through mentorship and hands-on learning experiences.

    What we love about Las Vegas College:

    The college provided various ways to help ease its students’ financial challenges, including institutional scholarships, government grants, and flexible payment plans.

    Las Vegas College is ideal for students who:

    Prefer an accredited nursing program.

    Las Vegas College might not be the best fit for students who:

    Are looking for more degree program choices.

    Popular Programs:

    • Nursing
    • Accounting Technology
    • Business Management
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