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CollegeRanker
Public Henderson, NV · Rural · Far West · 93% data
B Diversity B Earnings B Value
Graduation Rate
32% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$53,166 B
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$14,068 C+
18% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
87% D+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +30% vs avg
Graduation -44% vs avg
Net Price +-18% vs avg
Mobility Top 99%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 21.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.8 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Colleges With the Largest Endowments Per Student.

21.8× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $21.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,167,716.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 30% above the national college median.

  3. Graduation of 32% — 44% below the national average.

  4. Inventor rate in the top 1% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.

  5. Every $1 invested returns $21.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
325700.0%
Top 1%
Patents
0
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
95
Downstream influence

Why Nevada State University Matters

Nevada State University is a public college in Henderson, NV and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an unusually high rate of inventors and patents and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

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

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
3,762
Setting
Rural
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Education, Psychology, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Nevada State University

Startup & founder culture
Inventors produced at the top 1% rate nationally
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C
Top 51% overall
B
Earnings
$53,166 median
B
Value
3.8× net price
C+
Affordability
$14,068/yr net
F
Graduation
32% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.0% climb Q1→Q5
D+
Selectivity
87% admit rate
B
Diversity
0.69 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of just over 3,700 students, Nevada State University is a solid choice for those seeking a supportive environment in Henderson, NV. The school caters well to individuals interested in practical fields of study, such as Health Professions, Psychology, Education, Criminal Justice, and Business & Marketing. The acceptance rate of 87% suggests that the university welcomes a diverse range of students, making it an accessible option for many.

When it comes to life after graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $53,166 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure is especially promising considering that many graduates find stable employment in their chosen fields. While the graduation rate stands at 32%, which may raise some questions, it’s essential to recognize that those who do complete their degrees often see a tangible return on their investment.

Looking at the financial aspect, the net price after aid is approximately $14,068, which is fairly manageable for a public university. Graduates leave with a median debt of $19,691, a consideration that can impact their financial future. Students who thrive here often appreciate the affordability and the focus on practical skills, making Nevada State University a fitting option for those looking to balance education with future earning potential.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Nevada State University 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 Nevada State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Henderson, Nevada, Nevada State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.

Acceptance Rate
87%
Retention Rate
79%
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$9,521
Student–Faculty Ratio
18:1
Diversity Index
0.69
First-Gen Students
49%
Applicants
1,558
Admitted
1,285

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 Nevada State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Nevada State University is $21,833, 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 $14,068. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,438 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,691 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$6,765
Out-of-State
$21,833
Avg Net Price
$14,068
Median Debt
$19,691
Pell Grant Rate
23%
Federal Loan Rate
13%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$11,438
Family Income $30K–$48K
$13,084
Family Income $48K–$75K
$16,002
Family Income $110K+
$21,125

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 Nevada State University — 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 Nevada State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Nevada State University earn a median of $53,166, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$47,092
8 Years
$47,968
10 Years
$53,166
Debt-to-Earnings
0.37x
Earning > $25K
77%

Earnings Trajectory

$47,092 6yr $47,968 8yr $53,166 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (16)
8%
100% (16)
8%
100% (16)
8%
100% (16)
8%

How Nevada Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation32%Earnings 10yr$53KNet Price$14KRetention79%Median Debt$20KPell Grant Rate23%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$13K$30-48K$16K$48-75K$21K$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%4.1%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%1.1%MOBILITY0.05%

College ROI Calculator

Is Nevada State University Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Nevada State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,068/year ($56,272 total). Graduates earn $53,166 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,223,988 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,167,716 (21.8× your investment). The median debt is $19,691, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 32% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$56,272
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,223,988
Net Return
$1,167,716
ROI Multiple
21.8×
Cost Per Year
$14,068
Median Debt
$19,691
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
32%

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 Nevada State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Nevada State University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.05%, a more modest figure. About 4.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 1.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.05%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
1.1%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
4.1%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$120,241
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Nevada State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Nevada State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.38
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.7%
Support Ratio
0.84
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Nevada State University produces inventors at an exceptional rate — the top 1% of U.S. colleges, with 0 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
325700.00%
Top 1% nationally
Patents Produced
0
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
95
Downstream influence
Inventors From Low-Income
0.65%
Bottom-20% families

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$1,331,000
Investment Income
$-1,762,000

Top Programs

The fields Nevada State University 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Nevada State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Henderson, Nevada, Nevada State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Nevada State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Nevada State University is $21,833, 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 $14,068. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,438 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,691 in federal student loans.

Is Nevada State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Nevada State University earn a median of $53,166, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Nevada State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Nevada State University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.05%, a more modest figure. About 4.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 1.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Nevada State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Nevada State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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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.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys