Great Basin College vs. WGU Western Governors

Comparable Facts

Compare Great Basin College in Elko, NV with Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, UT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Governors University is larger than Great Basin College based on total student enrollment (210,208 students vs. 3,320 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Great Basin College is located in Elko, NV (Remote Town setting); Western Governors University is in Salt Lake City, UT (Large Suburban setting).
• Great Basin College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Governors University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Great Basin College 18:1; Western Governors University 42:1.

Great Basin College vs. WGU Western Governors Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Great Basin College or WGU Western Governors? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Great Basin College than WGU Western Governors ($8,193 vs. $11,328).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Great Basin College are 25.9% lower than at Western Governors University ($6,000 vs. $8,100).
• Western Governors University is 120.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Great Basin College (about $4,735 more per year; $8,658.00 vs. $3,923.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.3% higher at Great Basin College than at Western Governors University (about $5,225 more per year; $13,883.00 vs. $8,658.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Great Basin College than at Western Governors University (60% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Great Basin College students is 12.4% larger than aid received by Western Governors University students ($6,129 vs. $5,455).

Great Basin College vs. WGU Western Governors Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Great Basin College or WGU Western Governors? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WGU Western Governors and Great Basin College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Great Basin College - Open admission; WGU Western Governors - Open admission.

Great Basin College vs. WGU Western Governors Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Great Basin College and WGU Western Governors? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Western Governors University earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Great Basin College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,200 vs. $36,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Great Basin College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than WGU Western Governors graduates ($9,500 vs. $12,500).
• Among borrowers, Great Basin College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WGU Western Governors graduates ($98 vs. $129).
• More WGU Western Governors graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Great Basin College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 39%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.