Degree Dividend
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Best colleges in Nevada, ranked by ROI

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

We rank all 22 Nevada institutions we profile by payback years — total net cost divided by earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The state's median net price is $21,891/yr (above the $16,902 national median), and its graduates earn a median $38,981 ten years out (below the $43,549 national median). Chamberlain University-Nevada leads, clearing its cost in 2.5 years. (Scorecard, 2026.)

$21,891
Median net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$38,981
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
5.2 yrs
Median payback
Our math, 2026
22
Colleges ranked
degreedividend.com
Nevada colleges by payback (best first)
#CollegeNet price/yrEarnings 10yPayback
1Chamberlain University-Nevada$27,073$92,4052.5 yrs
2Galen Health Institutes-Las Vegas$24,190$61,4803.7 yrs
3University of Nevada-Reno$15,927$60,6145.2 yrs
4University of Nevada-Las Vegas$10,359$55,0376.2 yrs
5Nevada State University$14,068$53,16611.7 yrs
6Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas$26,178$48,191no payback
7Truckee Meadows Community College$8,312$44,573no payback
8Western Nevada College$12,732$41,987no payback
9Carrington College-Reno$51,823$43,731no payback
10Great Basin College$8,471$39,289no payback
11College of Southern Nevada$6,615$38,087no payback
12Pima Medical Institute-Las Vegas$23,188$38,673no payback
13Nevada Career Institute$41,741$41,472no payback
14Carrington College-Las Vegas$43,570$36,718no payback
15Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas$30,921$34,657no payback
16Las Vegas College$29,880$31,398no payback
17Avalon Institute-Las Vegas$16,571$30,803no payback
18United Education Institute-Las Vegas$31,628$30,848no payback
19Northwest Career College$16,470$27,530no payback
20Casal Institute of Nevada$13,414$25,293no payback
21Milan Institute-Las Vegas$23,010$24,879no payback
22Milan Institute of Cosmetology-Reno$20,771$22,378no payback

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · ranking and payback are our math. Payback uses institution-wide earnings; a specific major can rank very differently.

Colleges in Nevada: frequently asked questions

Which college has the best ROI in Nevada?
Chamberlain University-Nevada. It charges $27,073/yr after aid and its graduates earn a median $92,405 ten years out, clearing the cost in about 2.5 years — the fastest payback of the 22 Nevada colleges we track.
How much does college cost in Nevada?
The median net price across Nevada colleges is $21,891/yr after grants and scholarships — above the $16,902 national median. That is the actual price the typical aided student pays, not the published sticker.
What do Nevada college graduates earn?
A median $38,981 ten years after entry (Scorecard), below the $43,549 national median. Earnings vary widely by school and major — see each college's profile for its own figure.
How many Nevada colleges pay for themselves?
5 of the 22 Nevada colleges we track clear their cost on institution-wide earnings above the high-school baseline. The rest need a high-ROI major to pay off — the school average alone does not.