Great Basin College vs. WNC

Comparable Facts

Compare Great Basin College in Elko, NV with Western Nevada College in Carson City, NV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Nevada College is larger than Great Basin College based on total student enrollment (4,284 students vs. 3,320 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Great Basin College is located in Elko, NV (Remote Town setting); Western Nevada College is in Carson City, NV (Rural Fringe setting).
• Great Basin College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Nevada College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Great Basin College 18:1; Western Nevada College 15:1.

Great Basin College vs. WNC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Great Basin College or WNC? 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 WNC ($8,193 vs. $14,929).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Great Basin College are 66.3% lower than at Western Nevada College ($6,000 vs. $17,788).
• Western Nevada College is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Great Basin College (about $245 more per year; $4,168.00 vs. $3,923.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at Great Basin College than at Western Nevada College (about $1,049 more per year; $13,883.00 vs. $12,834.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Nevada College than at Great Basin College (88% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Great Basin College students is 4.3% larger than aid received by Western Nevada College students ($6,129 vs. $5,874).

Great Basin College vs. WNC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Great Basin College or WNC? 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 WNC 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; WNC - Open admission.

Great Basin College vs. WNC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Great Basin College and WNC? 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 Great Basin College earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than WNC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,800 vs. $33,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Great Basin College graduates have a $1,816 lower median loan debt than WNC graduates ($9,500 vs. $11,316).
• Among borrowers, Great Basin College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WNC graduates ($98 vs. $117).
• More Great Basin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WNC students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 30%)

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.