by our College Data Analytics Team
Looking for the best colleges for the money in Nevada? We have ranked 8 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. You are viewing our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — see Customize Your Rankings below for aid-adjusted and by-degree views.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 8 schools to produce this 2026 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
In This Year’s Value Report:
We analyzed 8 schools in Nevada to surface the strongest return on investment. We focus on objective measures, not subjective opinion.
We start with the combined cost of average tuition, fees, and room and board — the published sticker price before any financial aid (the No Aid view). Cost alone isn’t enough — overall quality matters too. We weigh cost against outcomes such as graduation rates, educational resources, and what graduates earn.
The result is a ranking of schools that give you the most for your money. See the full methodology.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is College Of Southern Nevada, our #1 best value in Nevada. Set in Las Vegas, NV, College Of Southern Nevada is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,358, while out-of-state students pay about $13,024. The median program debt is $9,980. College Of Southern Nevada alumni report median earnings of $38,087 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,980 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Truckee Meadows Community College earned it the #2 place in Nevada. This public school is set in Reno, NV. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,352, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Typical student debt is $12,290. Median earnings reach $44,573 ten years out. Set against $12,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #3 on this year's best-value ranking in Nevada. Based in Las Vegas, NV, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Typical student debt is $21,181. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,037 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nevada Las Vegas has an acceptance rate of 96%.
You'll get strong value at Great Basin College, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Elko, NV, Great Basin College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,923, with out-of-state students paying around $11,996. Graduates carry a median of $17,128 in student loans. Great Basin College alumni report median earnings of $39,289 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Nevada College earned it the #5 place in Nevada. Western Nevada College is a public school based in Carson City, NV. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,168, while out-of-state students pay about $12,834. Western Nevada College students take on a median of $15,948 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,987 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,948 median debt.
Nevada State College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Henderson, NV, Nevada State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,765, with out-of-state students paying around $21,833. The median program debt is $25,892. Median earnings reach $53,166 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $25,892 median debt. Nevada State College has an acceptance rate of 87%.
University Of Nevada Reno landed the #7 spot for value in Nevada this year. Located in Reno, NV, University Of Nevada Reno is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,578, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Typical student debt is $19,918. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,614 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,918 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Career College landed the #8 spot for value in Nevada this year. This private for-profit school is set in Las Vegas, NV. The median program debt is $12,790. Median earnings reach $27,530 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $12,790 median debt.
Casal Institute Of Nevada came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Casal Institute Of Nevada is a private for-profit school based in Las Vegas, NV. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete their program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $25,293. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Avalon Institute Las Vegas landed the #10 spot for value in Nevada this year. Avalon Institute Las Vegas is a private for-profit school based in Las Vegas, NV. Students borrow a median of $8,081 to complete their program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $30,803. Set against $8,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
International Academy Of Style offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Reno, NV, International Academy Of Style is a private for-profit institution. The median program debt is $9,391. Median earnings reach $32,709 ten years out. Set against $9,391 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Academy Of Hair Design Las Vegas landed the #12 spot for value in Nevada this year. Based in Las Vegas, NV, Academy Of Hair Design Las Vegas is a private for-profit institution. The median program debt is $9,468. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $24,391. That is a strong return on a $9,468 median debt.
Paul Mitchell The School Reno offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Reno, NV, Paul Mitchell The School Reno is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $10,556 to complete their program here.
Medspa Academies National Institute Of Modern Aesthetics ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Based in Las Vegas, NV, Medspa Academies National Institute Of Modern Aesthetics is a private for-profit institution. Typical student debt is $12,394.
Pima Medical Institute Las Vegas came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Pima Medical Institute Las Vegas is a private for-profit school based in Las Vegas, NV. The median program debt is $16,215. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,673. Set against $16,215 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Las Vegas placed #16 among the best values in Nevada. Set in Las Vegas, NV, Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Las Vegas is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,757. Graduates carry a median of $32,376 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $48,191. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milan Institute Of Cosmetology Reno placed #17 among the best values in Nevada. This private for-profit school is set in Reno, NV. Graduates carry a median of $7,917 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $22,378. Set against $7,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milan Institute Las Vegas ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Las Vegas, NV, Milan Institute Las Vegas is a private for-profit institution. Milan Institute Las Vegas students take on a median of $8,961 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $24,879. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milan Institute Sparks ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Located in Sparks, NV, Milan Institute Sparks is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $8,320 to complete their program here. Milan Institute Sparks alumni report median earnings of $32,493 a decade after entry. Set against $8,320 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carrington College Las Vegas placed #20 among the best values in Nevada. Set in Las Vegas, NV, Carrington College Las Vegas is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,709 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,718 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $13,709 median debt.
L Makeup Institute ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for the money. Set in Las Vegas, NV, L Makeup Institute is a private for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $6,702 in student loans.
Paul Mitchell The School Las Vegas offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Las Vegas, NV, Paul Mitchell The School Las Vegas is a private for-profit institution. Typical student debt is $13,646.
Everest College Henderson offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. This private for-profit school is set in Las Vegas, NV. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,176. The median program debt is $20,488. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Euphoria Institute Of Beauty Arts And Sciences Summerlin landed the #24 spot for value in Nevada this year. Based in Las Vegas, NV, Euphoria Institute Of Beauty Arts And Sciences Summerlin is a private for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $9,499 in student loans. Median earnings reach $31,914 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arizona College Las Vegas landed the #25 spot for value in Nevada this year. Located in Las Vegas, NV, Arizona College Las Vegas is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,531. Arizona College Las Vegas students take on a median of $51,854 in debt. Median earnings reach $34,657 ten years out. Set against $51,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
These schools also landed near the top of this year’s value ranking:
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 8 schools evaluated. References
See our data sources and methodologies.