Western Nevada College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Western Nevada College charges a net price of $12,732/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $25,464. Median earnings ten years after entry are $41,987, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Western Nevada College does not clear its cost — it ranks #8 of 22 Nevada colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $12,732/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $25,464 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $41,987 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$6,373/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$152,924 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Western Nevada College's own numbers. Net price $12,732 × 2 years = $25,464 total. Median earnings $41,987 fall $6,373 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $25,464 bill in about 2.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Western Nevada College students graduate with?
A median $10,500 in federal loans among completers, or 25% of the $41,987 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Western Nevada College students graduate?
41% finish their degree — 59% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $25,464 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $62,107 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Western Nevada College expensive compared with other Nevada colleges?
Its $12,732 net price runs $9,159 below the $21,891 median across the 22 Nevada colleges we profile, and $18,317 less across the full degree.