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Las Vegas from above (40064746644)Photo: Mike McBey · CC BY 2.0
Colleges in and near Las Vegas

Las Vegas is home to four colleges, with about 24,000 students on campus

College of Southern Nevada (20,512 students on campus) and Northwest Career College (2,068) are inside the city. About 5% of Las Vegas’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Nevada (5%).

Northwest Career CollegeCollege of Southern Nevada

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Las Vegas. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
9
54,285 students on campus
Nearest college
2.1 mi
Northwest Career College
Residents in college
5%
About the same as NV (5%)
Nearest community college
5.5 mi
College of Southern Nevada · $4,358 tuition
Nearest public university
5.5 mi
College of Southern Nevada · $4,358 in-state
Median household income
$74K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Las Vegas

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 5.5 milesTogether they have 22,580 students on campus.A community college 5.5 miles awayCollege of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas: tuition and fees $4,358 a year for Nevada residents.In-state price at College of Southern NevadaLiving in Nevada, College of Southern Nevada charges $4,358 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $13,024. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% of residentsAbout the same as Nevada (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Las Vegas

Seven private colleges within 13.1 miles, one public college within 11.3 miles, and College of Southern Nevada 5.5 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Nevada-Las VegasCollege of Southern NevadaNorthwest Career CollegeLas Vegas
University or collegeCommunity college
Northwest Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,068 on campus · In Las Vegas$16knet price68%graduate$28kearningsNevada Career InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 396 on campus · In Las Vegas$42knet price55%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Chamberlain University-NevadaUniversity or college · For-profit · 560 on campus · In Las Vegas76%admitted$27knet price20%graduate$92kearningsEarnings are reported for all 15 campuses that file with it.College of Southern NevadaCommunity college · Public · 20,512 on campus · In Las Vegas$7knet price19%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $4,358 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Nevada-Las VegasUniversity or college · Public · 27,916 on campus · 11.3 mi · Las Vegas96%admitted$10knet price51%graduate$55kearningsArizona College of Nursing-Las VegasUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,185 on campus · 11.5 mi · Las Vegas100%admitted$31knet price82%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Las Vegas CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 541 on campus · 11.5 mi · Las Vegas$30knet price$31kearningsPima Medical Institute-Las VegasUniversity or college · For-profit · 748 on campus · 12.2 mi · Las Vegas$23knet price57%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.Carrington College-Las VegasUniversity or college · For-profit · 359 on campus · 13.1 mi · Las Vegas$44knet price59%graduate$37kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Las Vegas’ median household income ($73,877) falls.

College of Southern NevadaIn Las Vegas · sticker $13,665 · tuition $4,358$7,793a year
University of Nevada-Las Vegas11.3 mi · Las Vegas · sticker $19,638$10,606a year
Northwest Career CollegeIn Las Vegas · sticker $24,702$17,342a year
Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas11.5 mi · Las Vegas · sticker $35,587$29,794a year
Las Vegas College11.5 mi · Las Vegas · sticker $34,126$30,468a year
Nevada Career InstituteIn Las Vegas · sticker $44,982$43,358a year
Carrington College-Las Vegas13.1 mi · Las Vegas · sticker $47,617$46,510a year
Chamberlain University-NevadaIn Las Vegas · sticker $33,051—a year
Pima Medical Institute-Las Vegas12.2 mi · Las Vegas · sticker $27,603—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Las Vegas: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Northwest Career CollegeChamberlain University-NevadaCollege of Southern NevadaUniversity of Nevada-Las VegasPima Medical Institute-Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas51% graduate$55k earnings$19k typical debt
College of Southern Nevada19% graduate$38k earnings$8k typical debt
Northwest Career College68% graduate$28k earnings$10k typical debt
Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas82% graduate$35k earnings*$10k typical debt
Pima Medical Institute-Las Vegas57% graduate$39k earnings*$10k typical debt
Chamberlain University-Nevada20% graduate$92k earnings*$21k typical debt
Nevada Career Institute55% graduate$41k earnings*$10k typical debt
Carrington College-Las Vegas59% graduate$37k earnings*$10k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Nevada Career Institute (5); Chamberlain University-Nevada (15); Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas (20); Pima Medical Institute-Las Vegas (13); Carrington College-Las Vegas (5).

Majors

What students study in Las Vegas

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Las Vegas’ 4 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 25%Liberal arts 15%Computer science 14%Business 13%Physical sciences 6%Psychology 4%Everything else 24%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingChamberlain University-Nevada · 170 graduates a year
$96k4 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied ProfessionsCollege of Southern Nevada · 6 graduates a year
$93k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Las Vegas

Is Las Vegas a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Las Vegas residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Nevada (5). The largest campus in the city, College of Southern Nevada, has 20,512 students on campus.

What colleges are in Las Vegas?

College of Southern Nevada, Northwest Career College, Chamberlain University-Nevada and Nevada Career Institute are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Las Vegas, and what does it cost?

College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, 5.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,358 a year for Nevada residents; the federal net price, $6,615, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does College of Southern Nevada cost if we live in Nevada?

Tuition and fees are $4,358 a year in-state and $13,024 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $5,627 (under $30,000 income) to $13,022 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Las Vegas. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →