Best Online Colleges in Nevada 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE COLLEGES IN NEVADA

Published: Dec 21, 2021
Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Nevada ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.

Top 10 Online Colleges in Nevada

University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Reno
College of Southern Nevada
Truckee Meadows Community College
Great Basin College
Western Nevada College

University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Reno
College of Southern Nevada
Great Basin College
Truckee Meadows Community College
Western Nevada College

University of Nevada, Reno 86%
University of Nevada, Las Vegas 85%

University of Nevada, Reno 18 to 1
University of Nevada, Las Vegas 18 to 1
Truckee Meadows Community College 18 to 1
College of Southern Nevada 17 to 1
Western Nevada College 17 to 1
Great Basin College 17 to 1

University of Nevada, Las Vegas $8,159
University of Nevada, Reno $8,133
Great Basin College $3,607
College of Southern Nevada $3,383
Western Nevada College $3,383
Truckee Meadows Community College $2,862

University of Nevada, Las Vegas $5,976
University of Nevada, Reno $5,814

Western Nevada College
Great Basin College
Truckee Meadows Community College
College of Southern Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Western Nevada College
Truckee Meadows Community College
Great Basin College
College of Southern Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

University of Nevada, Las Vegas 85%
University of Nevada, Reno 86%

College of Southern Nevada 17 to 1
Western Nevada College 17 to 1
Great Basin College 17 to 1
University of Nevada, Reno 18 to 1
University of Nevada, Las Vegas 18 to 1
Truckee Meadows Community College 18 to 1

Truckee Meadows Community College $2,862
College of Southern Nevada $3,383
Western Nevada College $3,383
Great Basin College $3,607
University of Nevada, Reno $8,133
University of Nevada, Las Vegas $8,159

University of Nevada, Reno $5,814
University of Nevada, Las Vegas $5,976

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

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.

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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

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2024

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online Colleges in Nevada 2023

#1
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Las Vegas , NV
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Nevada 2024 #1 Best Public Colleges in Nevada 2024 #1 Best Grad Schools in Nevada 2024 #1 Best Research Universities in Nevada 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
47%
Student body
35K
Median SAT/ACT
1110/21
Career Outlook for degree at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Cost of Degree: $9,142
Expenses: $17,362
Starting Salary: $49,600
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Degrees
BA in Anthropology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Multidisciplinary Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Psychology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Urban Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#2
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno , NV
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Nevada 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Nevada 2024 #2 Best Grad Schools in Nevada 2024 #2 Best Research Universities in Nevada 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
62%
Student body
23K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Nevada, Reno
Cost of Degree: $8,994
Expenses: $20,270
Starting Salary: $56,300
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Degrees
BSN in Nursing (RN-to-BSN)

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#3
College of Southern Nevada
Las Vegas , NV
#1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nevada 2025 #1 Best Community Colleges in Nevada 2025 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Nevada 2024 #3 Best Public 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
Online Degrees
BAS in Fire and Emergency Services Administration

Required Credits: 121
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BAS in Project Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#4
Truckee Meadows Community College
Reno , NV
#3 Best Community Colleges in Nevada 2025 #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Nevada #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Nevada 2025 #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
Online Degrees
BS in Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
Great Basin College
Elko , NV
#2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nevada 2025 #2 Best Community Colleges in Nevada 2025 #4 Best Small Colleges in Nevada 2024 #6 Most Affordable 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
Online Degrees
BAS in Digital Information Technology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in English

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BAS in Human Services

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BAS in Land Surveying/Geomatics

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BAS in Management and Supervision

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BSN in Nursing (RN to BSN)

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Social Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
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#6
Western Nevada College
Carson City , NV
#2 Best Small Colleges in Nevada 2024 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nevada 2025 #4 Best Community Colleges in Nevada 2025 #5 Most Affordable 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
Online Degrees
BAS in Organization and Project Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school

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Best Online Colleges in Nevada 2024

Top 10 Online Colleges in Nevada

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Nevada

What are Nevada’s Colleges & Universities?

Nevada’s Best Overall

Best Online Colleges in Nevada 2023

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Career Outlook for degree at University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Online Degrees

University of Nevada, Reno

Career Outlook for degree at University of Nevada, Reno

Online Degrees

College of Southern Nevada

Career Outlook for degree at College of Southern Nevada

Online Degrees

Truckee Meadows Community College

Career Outlook for degree at Truckee Meadows Community College

Online Degrees

Great Basin College

Career Outlook for degree at Great Basin College

Online Degrees

Western Nevada College

Career Outlook for degree at Western Nevada College

Online Degrees