College of Southern Nevada
College of Southern Nevada — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
College of Southern Nevada at a Glance
The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) is a public community college in Clark County, Nevada. The college has more than 2,500 teaching and non-teaching staff and is the largest public college or university in Nevada. It is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
1971
55 years old
30,000
Identity
Is College of Southern Nevada Worth It?
At a value score of 27/100, College of Southern Nevada is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $38,087 — 29% below average — while paying $6,615/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 19% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 2 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at College of Southern Nevada has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How College of Southern Nevada compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #37 of 45 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #2 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #3 | Santa Monica College | 100 | $2,779 | $42,193 |
| #4 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #5 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #6 | South Texas College | 100 | $1,751 | $36,788 |
| #37 | College of Southern Nevada | 27 | $6,615 | $38,087 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of College of Southern Nevada's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at College of Southern Nevada
Program-level earnings data isn't available for College of Southern Nevada. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $6,615/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in NV
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Las Vegas, NV
- Student Body
- 27,252 students
- Graduation Rate
- 19%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,615
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $38,087
- Median Student Debt
- $8,000