Best Community Colleges in Nevada 2024

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

The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students 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.

Best Community Colleges in Nevada

Sort by:
  1. College of Southern Nevada
  2. Las Vegas College
  3. Western Nevada College
  4. Truckee Meadows Community College
  5. Great Basin College
  1. College of Southern Nevada
  2. Great Basin College
  3. Truckee Meadows Community College
  4. Western Nevada College
  5. Las Vegas College
    1. Las Vegas College 19 to 1
    2. Truckee Meadows Community College 18 to 1
    3. Great Basin College 17 to 1
    4. College of Southern Nevada 17 to 1
    5. Western Nevada College 17 to 1
    1. Las Vegas College $16,695
    2. Great Basin College $3,607
    3. College of Southern Nevada $3,383
    4. Western Nevada College $3,383
    5. Truckee Meadows Community College $2,862
      1. Great Basin College
      2. Truckee Meadows Community College
      3. Western Nevada College
      4. Las Vegas College
      5. College of Southern Nevada
      1. Las Vegas College
      2. Western Nevada College
      3. Truckee Meadows Community College
      4. Great Basin College
      5. College of Southern Nevada
        1. Great Basin College 17 to 1
        2. College of Southern Nevada 17 to 1
        3. Western Nevada College 17 to 1
        4. Truckee Meadows Community College 18 to 1
        5. Las Vegas College 19 to 1
        1. Truckee Meadows Community College $2,862
        2. College of Southern Nevada $3,383
        3. Western Nevada College $3,383
        4. Great Basin College $3,607
        5. Las Vegas College $16,695

          Colleges and Universities in Nevada

          From bigger universities, like the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to smaller schools, like Western Nevada College, students have plenty of options. While the University of Nevada, Las Vegas serves 25,000 students, making it Nevada’s largest higher education institute, their friendly rival university in the north, the University of Nevada, Reno, comes in at a close second, with just over 19,000 students.

          Find college admissions consultants in your state.

          Though Western Nevada College is much smaller in student population, this school offers three campuses and seven other instructional sites across the state. With yearly tuition at the three major universities being under $10,000 and tuition at several smaller colleges coming in at $5,000 or less, students are sure to find an affordable degree. Additionally, those hoping to pursue a career in healthcare or a related field may want to consider attending one of Nevada’s three private colleges or the two biggest universities, all of which offer unique degrees in areas spanning radiology, pediatrics, and nursing. Nevada is also home to one Judaic college, Touro University Nevada, located in Henderson, a city just outside of Las Vegas.

          Though most know Nevada for the glitzy casinos and attractions in Las Vegas, it is also home to beautiful Lake Tahoe, a favorite of skiers, hikers, beachgoers, locals, and vacationers. In Nevada, students can bet big and enjoy the outdoors, all while earning their degree at one of The Silver State’s exemplary colleges and universities.

          Check out the top degree programs and future career opportunities offered in Nevada.


          What are Nevada’s Colleges & Universities?

          Nevada’s Best Overall

          Nevada's Best Community Colleges Badge
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          We’ve identified 5 community colleges in Nevada. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Nevada.

          Best Community Colleges in Nevada

          1. #1

            College of Southern Nevada

            Las Vegas , NV
            #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nevada 2024 #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: $3,968
            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

            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
            Compare school
          2. #2

            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: $15,493
            Starting Salary: $29,300
            What is Las Vegas College known for?

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

            Compare school
          3. #3

            Western Nevada College

            Carson City , NV
            #2 Best Small Colleges in Nevada 2024 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nevada 2024 #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: $3,838
            Starting Salary: $35,800
            What is Western Nevada College known for?

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

            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
          4. #4

            Truckee Meadows Community College

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

            Tuition + fees

            $3K

            Graduation

            26%

            Student body

            13K

            Career Outlook for degree at Truckee Meadows Community College

            Cost of Degree: $3,162
            Starting Salary: $38,000
            What is Truckee Meadows Community College known for?

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

            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
          5. #5

            Great Basin College

            Elko , NV
            #4 Best Small Colleges in Nevada 2024 #5 Best Liberal Arts 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: $3,772
            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:

            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
            Compare school
          2021 Ranking Archive

          Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

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