University of Nevada-Reno vs Truckee Meadows Community College: which has better ROI?
University of Nevada-Reno has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $63,708 in 5.2 years versus not at all at Truckee Meadows Community College, on median earnings of $60,614 vs $44,573 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Nevada-Reno | Truckee Meadows Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,927 | $8,312 |
| Total net cost | $63,708 | $33,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,614 | $44,573 |
| Median debt | $18,922 | $11,000 |
| Payback | 5.2 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $181,372 | -$108,988 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Nevada-Reno or Truckee Meadows Community College?
Truckee Meadows Community College, at $8,312 a year after aid versus $15,927 — a gap of $7,615 a year, or $30,460 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Nevada-Reno or Truckee Meadows Community College graduates earn more?
University of Nevada-Reno graduates report a median $60,614 ten years after entry, $16,041 more than the $44,573 at Truckee Meadows Community College. 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, University of Nevada-Reno or Truckee Meadows Community College?
Truckee Meadows Community College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $18,922 at University of Nevada-Reno, a difference of $7,922. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
61% of students finish at University of Nevada-Reno, 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.