UNLV vs. WNC

Should I go to University of Nevada Las Vegas or Western Nevada College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UNLV or WNC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Nevada Las Vegas vs. Western Nevada College comparison
University of Nevada Las Vegas Western Nevada College College 3 College 4
University of Nevada Las Vegas
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Overview

 UNLV WNC
Location Las Vegas, NV Carson City, NV
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 31,094 4,188
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #652
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website unlv.edu wnc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UNLV WNC
Tuition (In State) $8,354 $3,465
Tuition (Out of State) $25,310 $11,564
Room & Board $12,072 $14,156
Avg Net Price $11,388 $15,793
Avg Grant Aid $7,580 $5,172
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 80%

Admission

 UNLV WNC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,232 -
Admitted 11,774 -
Acceptance Rate 96.3% Open
Enrolled % 38.9% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.4 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 980/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2026

Academics

 UNLV WNC
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (49%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)

Outcomes

 UNLV WNC
Graduation Rate 40% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,600 $33,700
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 30%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,018 $11,316
Median Loan Payment $196 $117

Diversity

 UNLV WNC
% Men 7% 28%
% Women 10% 25%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 35% 66%
% Black 8% 2%
% Hispanic 26% 20%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 1% 1%
% Two or More Races 9% 3%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

 UNLV WNC
% In-State 85% 99%
% Out-of-State 14% 1%

Campus

 UNLV WNC
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Nevada Las Vegas is larger than than WNC based on total student enrollment (31,094 students vs. 4,188 students)

UNLV vs. WNC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNLV or WNC?

  • University of Nevada Las Vegas is 141.1% more expensive to attend than WNC for in-state tuition ($8,354.00 vs. $3,465.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 118.9% higher at UNLV than Western Nevada College ($25,310.00 vs. $11,564.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nevada Las Vegas than WNC ($11,388 vs. $15,793)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nevada Las Vegas are 17.3% lower than costs at Western Nevada College ($12,072 vs. $14,156)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nevada Las Vegas than Western Nevada College (90% vs. 80%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nevada Las Vegas students is 46.6% larger than aid received Western Nevada College ($7,580 vs. $5,172)

Which college is harder to get into, UNLV or WNC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WNC or UNLV .

UNLV vs. WNC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UNLV or WNC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WNC and UNLV.

  • Graduates from University of Nevada Las Vegas earn on average $13,900 more per year than WNC graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $33,700)
  • Western Nevada College students graduate with a $7,702 lower median federal student loan debt than UNLV graduates. ($11,316 vs. $19,018)
  • WNC graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than UNLV graduates. ($117 vs. $196)
  • More UNLV graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WNC students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 30%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/