WNC vs. NSC

Deciding between Western Nevada College and Nevada State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WNC Carson City, NV
  • NSC Henderson, NV
  • Setting
  • WNC Rural Fringe
  • NSC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • WNC 4,284
  • NSC 7,549
  • Type
  • WNC Public 4 Year
  • NSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WNC
  • NSC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WNC -
  • NSC -
  • Status
  • WNC Non-profit
  • NSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WNC
  • NSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WNC $4,168
  • NSC $6,765
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WNC $12,834
  • NSC $21,833
  • Room & Board
  • WNC $17,788
  • NSC $11,819
  • Average Net Price
  • WNC $14,929
  • NSC $15,699
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WNC $5,874
  • NSC $7,969
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WNC 88%
  • NSC 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WNC -
  • NSC 1,828
  • Admitted
  • WNC -
  • NSC 1,587
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WNC Open
  • NSC 86.8%
  • Enrolled
  • WNC Open
  • NSC 33.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WNC
  • NSC
  • Typical ACT score
  • WNC
  • NSC
  • Average High School GPA
  • WNC -
  • NSC 2.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WNC -
  • NSC B-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WNC Unavailable
  • NSC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • WNC
  • NSC
  • ACT Range
  • WNC
  • NSC
  • SAT Range
  • WNC
  • NSC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WNC Open admission
  • NSC Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • WNC
  • NSC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WNC 15:1
  • NSC 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WNC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (49%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)
  • NSC
    • Health Professions (42%)
    • Education (21%)
    • Psychology (14%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WNC -
  • NSC 22%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WNC $33,700
  • NSC N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WNC 30%
  • NSC 43%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WNC $11,316
  • NSC $22,920
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WNC $117
  • NSC $236

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WNC 48%
  • NSC 29%
  • % Women
  • WNC 52%
  • NSC 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WNC Medium
  • NSC Very High
  • HBCU
  • WNC No
  • NSC No
  • % White
  • WNC 66%
  • NSC 41%
  • % Asian
  • WNC 2%
  • NSC 10%
  • % Black
  • WNC 2%
  • NSC 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • WNC 20%
  • NSC 25%
  • % Native American
  • WNC 2%
  • NSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WNC 1%
  • NSC 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WNC 3%
  • NSC 5%
  • % International
  • WNC 0%
  • NSC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WNC 5%
  • NSC 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WNC 97%
  • NSC 99%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WNC 3%
  • NSC 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • WNC No
  • NSC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • WNC No
  • NSC No
  • Meal Plan
  • WNC No
  • NSC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • WNC No
  • NSC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • WNC Yes
  • NSC No

Comparable Facts

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

Nevada State University is larger than WNC based on total student enrollment (7,549 students vs. 4,284 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

WNC vs. NSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WNC or NSC? 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 Western Nevada College than NSC ($14,929 vs. $15,699).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nevada State University are 33.6% lower than at Western Nevada College ($11,819 vs. $17,788).
  • Nevada State University is 62.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than WNC (about $2,597 more per year; $6,765.00 vs. $4,168.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 70.1% higher at NSC than at Western Nevada College (about $8,999 more per year; $21,833.00 vs. $12,834.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Western Nevada College as at Nevada State University (88% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nevada State University students is 35.7% larger than aid received by Western Nevada College students ($7,969 vs. $5,874).

WNC vs. NSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WNC or NSC? 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 NSC and WNC.

  • Western Nevada College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WNC - Open admission; NSC - Test-free.

WNC vs. NSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WNC and NSC? 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).

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Nevada College graduates have a $11,604 lower median loan debt than NSC graduates ($11,316 vs. $22,920).
  • Among borrowers, WNC graduates have an estimated $119 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSC graduates ($117 vs. $236).
  • More NSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WNC students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.