Best College ROI in Nv 2026
12 colleges in Nv analyzed for return on investment. University of Nevada-Reno leads with a ROI Score of 95/100 (STRONG BUY).
Nv has 12 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 7 public institutions and 5 private ones. Across the 12 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $31K and earn $75K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Nv colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at University of Nevada-Reno (median $95K on Computer Science). The lowest median debt comes from College of Southern Nevada at $15K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Nv
University of Nevada-Reno
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Nv's ROI rankings on its Computer Science program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $21K in median debt.
Great Basin College
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Nevada State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Mathematics. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $24K.
Top 12 Colleges by ROI in Nv
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Nevada-Reno(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 2 | Great Basin College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $26K | $95K | A (94) |
| 3 | Nevada State University(public) | Mathematics | $24K | $78K | A (94) |
| 4 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas(public) | Computer Science | $28K | $95K | A (92) |
| 5 | University of Phoenix-Nevada(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $39K | $95K | A (87) |
| 6 | College of Southern Nevada(public) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $15K | $65K | A (82) |
| 7 | Truckee Meadows Community College(public) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $26K | $65K | B (78) |
| 8 | Western Nevada College(public) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $28K | $65K | B (77) |
| 9 | DeVry University-Nevada(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $32K | $65K | B (75) |
| 10 | Chamberlain University-Nevada(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $43K | $62K | B (73) |
| 11 | Las Vegas College(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $41K | $62K | B (73) |
| 12 | Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $53K | $62K | B (68) |
College debt and earnings data for Nv is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
University of Nevada-Reno has the best ROI in Nv with a score of 95/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Science, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $21K in median debt.
Across 12 Nv colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $31K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $75K.
University of Nevada-Reno graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Science). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Nv has 12 colleges in our database (7 public, 5 private). Of the 12 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).