Head-to-head · 2026
College of Southern Nevada vs University of Nevada-Reno
Compare average net price ($6,615 at College of Southern Nevada; $15,927 at University of Nevada-Reno), ROI score (14.39 vs 9.51), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($38,087 vs $60,614), and admissions context (Open / not reported at College of Southern Nevada; 73.7% at University of Nevada-Reno) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | College of Southern Nevada | University of Nevada-Reno |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 14.39 ✓ | 9.51 |
| Avg net price | $6,615 ✓ | $15,927 |
| 4-year avg net price | $26,460 ✓ | $63,708 |
| In-state tuition | $4,358 | $9,578 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $13,024 | $27,720 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $38,087 | $60,614 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | 73.7% |
| Graduation rate | 19.1% | 61.2% ✓ |
| Retention rate | — | 79.7% |
| Median debt | $8,000 ✓ | $18,922 |
| Enrollment | 27,252 | 15,599 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | 1132 |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | College of Southern Nevada | University of Nevada-Reno |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $5,627 ✓ | $12,674 |
| Family income $30–48k | $6,178 ✓ | $13,125 |
| Family income $48–75k | $7,793 ✓ | $14,537 |
| Family income $75–110k | $9,753 ✓ | $18,317 |
| Family income $110k+ | $13,022 ✓ | $21,646 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | College of Southern Nevada | University of Nevada-Reno |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 17.6% | 0.8% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 10.7% | 3.6% |
| Psychology, General | 3.7% | 4.2% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 3.4% | 4.5% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 4.5% | 3.2% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 4.4% | 2.5% |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 5.2% | 0.4% |
| Biology, General | 0.8% | 3.3% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
College of Southern Nevada reports the lower average net price by $9,312 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $37,248 difference over four years ($26,460 vs $63,708).
University of Nevada-Reno reports $22,527 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($60,614 vs $38,087). This is not earnings for a specific major.
Retention data is incomplete for at least one school. Compare the available graduation, debt, price and admissions context without treating a missing field as an advantage.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
College of Southern Nevada vs University of Nevada-Reno, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
College of Southern Nevada is cheaper — average net price $6,615 per year vs $15,927 at University of Nevada-Reno. The annual difference of $9,312 adds up to about $37,248 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
University of Nevada-Reno reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $60,614 vs $38,087 at College of Southern Nevada. The gap in the federal data is $22,527. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.