Nevada students of all grade levels are familiar with distance education; free K-12 enrichment programs such as Nevada Virtual Academy and Nevada Connections Academy have been made available over the last decade. By 2013, six of the state's four-year colleges offered some form of online education, while the University of Nevada-Reno emerged as a leader in Nevada's online education, offering more than 200 online classes, over 145 online degree programs and numerous fully online graduate programs. Nevada has also participated in WICHE initiatives related to distance education, such as the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), a voluntary, nationwide initiative of states that strive to make distance education courses more accessible to students across state lines.
Currently, higher education in Nevada is experiencing an increase in both tuition cost and enrollment. Between 2006 and 2011, tuition prices spiked 65.8%, which can be partially attributed to inflation. However, a major culprit is the decrease in state spending on higher education, which dropped by 20.3% during the same timespan. Fortunately for students, programs like SARA are funded by more than $3 million in grants from Lumina Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Despite the increase in attendance price, Nevada's enrollment rates continue to grow faster than the national average, jumping 20.1% between 2006 and 2011. Nevada has a 46.2% graduation rate and a 77.1% first year retention rate.
Learn more about the top online colleges in Nevada, and explore higher education options further with our extensive database of all distance programs offered in the state. In addition, find some of Nevada's best scholarship opportunities to help lower the cost of your education using the State Facts page.
Featured Online Programs
14 Colleges in Nevada
Additional Resources
Official State Links
College Savings
- SSgA Upromise 529 Plan: This Nevada state savings plan is meant for students and families looking to invest in college early but who can't necessarily put away a lot of money. It waives annual fees, provides tax benefits, and has low contribution limits. Students may also qualify for Nevada's Silver State Matching Grant Program.
- Additional 529 Plans: Nevada offers students several other 529 college savings plans, all of which run through investment groups. These plans, from Vanguard, Putnam, and USAA, are meant for students and families that can invest slightly more than those choosing the SSga Upromise plan. Each of the three plans has a range of investment options, as well as tax benefits.
- Nevada Prepaid Tuition Program: Another 529 program, this government plan is similar to the others in that it allows students to put away money for college early, essentially "locking in" today's tuition prices. It does not, however, cover more than tuition (fees, books, etc).
Education Nonprofits
- Go To College Nevada: This Nevada nonprofit is a comprehensive resource for students looking to enroll in postsecondary education. It hosts college seminars and workshops, provides financial aid resources and tips on applying to college, and connects students to college preparatory materials.
- Nevada PEP: Designed to support families with children who have disabilities, NV PEP provides resources to help those students succeed in all levels of schools. They have numerous resources related to higher education and making the transition from high school to independent living at school.
Higher Education News
- NSHE News: The state body in charge of higher education maintains a collection of news on the state's colleges and universities.
- Education Week Nevada: This national publication includes news collections specific to each state, providing readers with information on higher education trends in Nevada.