by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its Top Nevada Colleges ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
We analyzed 9 colleges and universities across Nevada to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. To come up with this ranking, we look at more than 20 factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include freshman retention, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and post graduate earnings, among other things.
We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University of Nevada - Las Vegas tops this year’s ranking as the best school in Nevada for overall quality. This large public school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 6,574 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from UNLV make an average of $52,464 a year.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Nevada - Reno helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Nevada. Located in Reno, Nevada, the large public school handed out 5,266 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from UNR make an average of $55,360 a year.
Out of the 9 schools in Nevada that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Southern Nevada landed the #3 spot on the list.Las Vegas, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 4,725 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from CSN go into careers with an average salary of $38,013 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 9 schools in Nevada that were part of this year’s ranking, Nevada State College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Henderson, Nevada, the medium-sized public school awarded 780 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from NSC make an average of $54,006 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Nevada College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Nevada list. Located in Carson City, Nevada, the small public school awarded 1,081 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from WNC is $38,793 during the early years of their career.
Truckee Meadows Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Nevada ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized public school is located in Reno, Nevada, and it awarded 2,686 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Truckee Meadows Community College make an average of $40,121 per year during the early years of their career.
Great Basin College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges in Nevada list.Elko, Nevada is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 855 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Great Basin College is $36,240 during the early years of their career.
Las Vegas College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Nevada ranking, coming in at #8. Las Vegas College is located in Las Vegas, Nevada and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 150 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Las Vegas College go into careers with an average salary of $28,577 during the early years of their career.
Career College of Northern Nevada landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Nevada ranking. Career College of Northern Nevada is a small private for-profit school located in Sparks, Nevada that handed out 162 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $31,690 during the early years of their career..
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 9 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
