Truckee Meadows Community College vs Casal Institute of Nevada: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Truckee Meadows Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,573 against a $33,248 total, vs $25,293 at Casal Institute of Nevada. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Truckee Meadows Community College | Casal Institute of Nevada |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,312 | $13,414 |
| Total net cost | $33,248 | $53,656 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,573 | $25,293 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$108,988 | -$514,996 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Truckee Meadows Community College or Casal Institute of Nevada?
Truckee Meadows Community College, at $8,312 a year after aid versus $13,414 — a gap of $5,102 a year, or $20,408 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Truckee Meadows Community College or Casal Institute of Nevada graduates earn more?
Truckee Meadows Community College graduates report a median $44,573 ten years after entry, $19,280 more than the $25,293 at Casal Institute of Nevada. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Truckee Meadows Community College or Casal Institute of Nevada?
Casal Institute of Nevada: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Truckee Meadows Community College, a difference of $4,667. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Casal Institute of Nevada, against 32% at Truckee Meadows Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.