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Great Basin College

Public Elko, NV · Town · Far West · 87% data
B+ Affordability B+ Value B Social Mobility
Graduation Rate
46% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$39,289 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$8,471 B+
51% less than the typical college
Enrollment
1,900
Earnings -4% vs avg
Graduation -20% vs avg
Net Price +-51% vs avg
Mobility Top 23%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 25.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $25.9 over 20 years.

25.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $25.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $844,266.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduation of 46% — 20% below the national average.

  3. Social mobility rate of 2.17% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $25.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Great Basin College Matters

Great Basin College is a public college in Elko, NV and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
1,900
Setting
Town
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Humanities, Education

Why students choose Great Basin College

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 36% overall
C
Earnings
$39,289 median
B+
Value
4.6× net price
B+
Affordability
$8,471/yr net
D+
Graduation
46% graduate
B
Social Mobility
2.2% climb Q1→Q5
C+
Diversity
0.61 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →
1
Can I Get In?

Admissions

Open / non-selective

This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.

Check your odds →
2
Can I Afford It?

Net price + aid

B+
$8,471/yr net

Students pay about $8,471 a year after grants and scholarships — 51% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.

See cost & aid →
3
What Happens After?

Earnings + debt

C
$39,289 median

Graduates earn a median of $39,289 ten years after enrolling — 4% below the typical college, against $15,750 in median debt.

See outcomes →
4
Does It Change Lives?

Mobility + social capital

B
2.2% climb

Moves 2.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 23% nationally for mobility.

See mobility →

Overview

Great Basin College is a solid choice for students who are looking for a supportive environment to pursue practical fields of study. With around 1,900 students, it offers a close-knit community where you can dig into programs like Health Professions, Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Business & Marketing, and Education. This focus on hands-on careers prepares students for the workforce in a way that feels relevant and engaging.

When we look at life after graduation, students earn a median salary of about $39,289 a decade after they complete their studies. While that number is a good starting point, it’s also important to consider how affordable this journey can be. The net price after financial aid stands at $8,471, and with 23% of students receiving Pell Grants, there are resources available to help ease the financial burden. It’s clear that many graduates are stepping into jobs that allow them to find their footing in the workforce.

On the practical side, the median debt sits at $15,750, which is manageable for many graduates. Students who thrive here tend to be those who appreciate a supportive, community-oriented environment and are focused on practical outcomes. If you’re looking for a college experience that emphasizes real-world skills and affordability, Great Basin College could be a strong fit.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Great Basin College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Great Basin College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Elko, Nevada, Great Basin College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.

Retention Rate
59%
Full-Time Faculty
99%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$9,575
Student–Faculty Ratio
17:1
Diversity Index
0.61
First-Gen Students
52%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Great Basin College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Great Basin College is $13,883, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,471. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,967 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $15,750 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$3,923
Out-of-State
$13,883
Avg Net Price
$8,471
Median Debt
$15,750
Pell Grant Rate
23%
Federal Loan Rate
5%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$6,967
Family Income $30K–$48K
$7,631
Family Income $48K–$75K
$9,639
Family Income $110K+
$12,947

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Great Basin College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Great Basin College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Great Basin College report median earnings of $39,289, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$35,615
8 Years
$39,239
10 Years
$39,289
Debt-to-Earnings
0.4x
Earning > $25K
56%

Earnings Trajectory

$35,615 6yr $39,239 8yr $39,289 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (4)
13%
100% (4)
13%
100% (4)
13%
100% (4)
13%

How Great Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation46%Earnings 10yr$39KNet Price$8KRetention59%Median Debt$16KPell Grant Rate23%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$7K$0-30K$8K$30-48K$10K$48-75K$13K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%12.0%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%18.1%MOBILITY2.17%

College ROI Calculator

Is Great Basin College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Great Basin College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,471/year ($33,884 total). Graduates earn $39,289 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $878,150 in total earnings — a net gain of $844,266 (25.9× your investment). The median debt is $15,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 46% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$33,884
Projected 20yr Earnings
$878,150
Net Return
$844,266
ROI Multiple
25.9×
Cost Per Year
$8,471
Median Debt
$15,750
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
46%
Explore all Great Basin ROI scenarios

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Great Basin College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Great Basin College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.17%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
2.17%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
18.1%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
12.0%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$105,024
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$854,000
Federal Grants
$2,694,000
Investment Income
$-614,000

Top Programs

The fields Great Basin College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Top Careers

Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Great Basin College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Great Basin College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Elko, Nevada, Great Basin College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Great Basin College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Great Basin College is $13,883, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,471. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,967 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $15,750 in federal student loans.

Is Great Basin College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Great Basin College report median earnings of $39,289, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Great Basin College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Great Basin College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.17%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Great Basin College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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