Students considering applying to online colleges in Nevada can use this guide to learn the ins and outs of factors including tuition expenses, enrollment, and scholarship opportunities. The state of Nevada has one public two-year university and 26 public four-year institutions. It also offers three private nonprofit institutions and 15 for-profit institutions. Each university charges its own tuition rates, and several offer scholarships. This guide outlines scholarships for students who live in Nevada, and gives an overview of the state's average tuition rates both for residents and nonresident students. There are several fast-growing jobs in Nevada with very large growth percentages that are outlined in this guide to give students an idea of employment rates and job opportunities they can expect after graduation.
But before we dive into our list of the best online colleges in Nevada for 2019, let's start with the state of higher education and online education in particular in Nevada today.
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Overview of Online Colleges in Nevada
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in Nevada
During the 2015-2016 school year, Nevada was home to 26 four-year public institutions, three nonprofit four-year institutions, and 15 for-profit institutions. In 2016, Nevada saw the highest enrollment in the nation, with 136,102 enrolled students. Most of the state's colleges and universities feature different tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students, but some offer a universal price to all students. On average, tuition for in-state students at public four-year institutions costs $7,660.[dataviz-stats public="26" non-profit="3" for-profit="15"]Nevada's flagship university, the University of Nevada at Reno, charges in-state students $7,764 for tuition, and $22,236 for out-of-state students. Some colleges participate in initiatives to reduce the cost of out-of-state tuition. Otherwise, nonresident students may seek out a variety of financial aid opportunities and resources. According to the National Association of State Students Grant and Aid Programs annual survey, Nevada students received $12,629,478 in need-based financial aid for the 2015-2016 school year, and $30,352,142 in non-need-based aid. The best online colleges in Nevada provide students with ample financial aid resources, including aid advisers, to help them explore their options. Often, financial aid can help cover the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition costs, helping to make it possible for out-of-state students to attend online schools in Nevada.
Higher Education in Nevada
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in Nevada
In 2015, 38,971 undergraduate students and 2,077 graduate students in Nevada took at least one online course. That same year, 12,306 undergraduate and 1,054 graduate students took exclusively online courses. Of students enrolled in online courses in Nevada in 2015, 94% had Nevada residency, with the rest living outside of the state. The College of Southern Nevada features the highest concentration of students enrolled in online programs (14,906 students). The University of Nevada at Las Vegas boasts the fastest enrollment growth for online programs, having experienced an increase of 1,967 students enrolling in online programs between 2012 and 2015.[dataviz-nces online="9.8" undergrad="92.3" in-state="94"]
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
Some schools offer a flat tuition rate for both in-state and out-of-state students, but most offer lower expenses for their resident students, and significantly higher costs for those with out-of-state residency. Nonresident students enrolled in online colleges in Nevada may qualify for special tuition breaks through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). WICHE enables resource-sharing among western higher education institutions, and has served western schools since 1953. The organization distributes around $9,000 each year in tuition discounts to students, and serves 16 western states, including Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon. WICHE's Western Undergraduate Exchange ensures that out-of-state students do not pay more than 150% of in-state tuition at participating schools. Eligible students must have residency in a WICHE member state.
Best Online Colleges in Nevada
Below, you will find our rankings of the best online four-year programs in Nevada. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list out their services for distance students and their popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in Nevada, explore our state resources, like a database of every college and university in Nevada or our index of popular in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in Nevada
Below, you'll find all of the online schools in Nevada sorted by their tuition rates.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online colleges in Nevada based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.The online schools in NV with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in their state.
College Graduate Outlook in Nevada
Job Outlook for College Graduates in Nevada
Online colleges in Nevada prepare students for many fast-growing job opportunities in the state, such as electrical assemblers, machinists, and production operators. The manufacturing field offers some of the state's fastest-growing job opportunities. As of September 2018, the Nevada's unemployment rate was 4.5%, and decreasing consistently month over month.The annual mean wage for all Nevada occupations is $45,040, though several fields offer significantly higher annual salaries. For example, marketing managers in Nevada earn an average salary of $138,660 per year, and computer and information systems managers enjoy a $133,460 salary. Nevada is experiencing rapid employment growth among positions for assemblers, industrial engineers, and electrical engineers, whose fields are growing at rates as high as 401.2%.