Online Degrees In Nevada (NV)

Once known primarily for its Wild West trappings and gambling-driven economy, Nevada is now a diverse state noted for attracting top tech companies the likes of Tesla, Apple, Amazon, Panasonic and Google. It’s also an emerging hub for green energy; not only does its average 250 days of sun per year make Nevada first in the nation in solar resources, but it’s also home to one of the most active geothermal landscapes in the world.

This means the state’s reliance on an educated workforce that’s skilled to work in these industries is increasing. Unfortunately, only 38 percent of Nevada’s adults have some form of postsecondary education, while 54 percent of the jobs in the state currently require it.

In 2016, Nevada leaders set forth a goal that by 2025, 60 percent of Nevadans ages 25 to 34 would have attained some form of postsecondary degree, certificate or credential.Although the state is home to 40 postsecondary institutions, only one is located in a rural area, despite the fact that nearly 10 percent of the population lives in rural-designated areas.

Earning an online education in Nevada means that you can learn much-needed skills from even the most remote places in the state. And because online programs often have no face-to-face or real-time requirements, you can complete your studies no matter what your work or family schedule looks like. Plus, it pays to earn an online degree: The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that people with bachelor’s degrees who work full time can expect to earn 84 percent more than their peers with only high school diplomas over their lifetimes.

Featured Online Colleges in Nevada

Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), we’ve developed a methodology that considers factors such as number of programs, graduation rates, tuition and student services in order to provide this list of the top 10 Nevada colleges that offer online degree programs.

Top Online Degree Programs in Nevada

Whether you’re a recent high school graduate, an adult looking to finish a degree after a long absence or a mid-career professional seeking a job change, you’ll want to know what online degree programs in Nevada are most prevalent. Drawing on data from the NCES about online degree offerings around the state, we’ve composed this list of the top online degree programs in Nevada, at the associate, bachelor’s or graduate level.

Quality of Online Education in Nevada

Nevada is a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), an organization of member states in the West formed to facilitate the sharing of resources and best practices among its members and their institutions, and to ensure students’ success. Nevada has participated in several WICHE initiatives related to distance education, including:

• Interstate Passport: the only nationwide network of regionally accredited, nonprofit, public and private two- and four-year institutions dedicated to the transfer of lower-division general education attainment based on learning outcomes and proficiency rather than courses and credits.
• Internet Course Exchanges (ICE): an administrative tool designed to support collaboration among institutions offering online courses, which enables institutions to expand their students’ access to high-quality online programs.

Additionally, through WICHE, Nevada is an accepted member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), which establishes comparable national standards for interstate offerings of online college courses and programs, so students are assured of consistent quality among its eight participating institutions.

Individual schools also are taking steps to ensure quality to online students. For example, Nevada State College, which is the second-fastest-growing college in the nation, according to its president Bart Patterson, has established a comprehensive Quality Assurance rubric and procedure for evaluating its online courses.

What to Look for in Online Degree Programs in Nevada

Before you’re ready to choose one of the online degree programs in Nevada, you’ll need to be sure that you understand the pathway you’ll need to follow to get to the career you desire. The Nevada State GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded program that, among its offerings, helps students find Career Pathway Models for Nevada’s key industry sectors, as well as links to the state’s top 100 occupations and more, to help students be sure they’re earning the experience and education they need.

Additionally, the NSHE’s Go To College Nevada resource offers great tips to help you select Nevada colleges that offer online degree programs. These include complete listings of NSHE colleges, their admissions requirements and details about what their fully or partially online offerings include. The site also offers valuable tips for finding financial aid and selecting the right college.

In Nevada, issues including low income, food insecurity, mental or physical health, child care and transportation have been identified as barriers to students’ success in college. For many, online programs can help address these concerns, but if these issues affect you, you should be especially concerned with the student services offered at online colleges in Nevada, which may include mentoring, advisement, counseling, tutoring or even child care.

Top Occupations in Nevada

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has indicated that the following occupations are seeing the greatest employment growth in Nevada. This information may be useful in helping you decide on a program or field of study.

Top Metropolitan Areas in Nevada: Industries and Careers

Of the approximately 110,000 squares miles comprising Nevada, about 85 percent is owned and administered by the federal government, meaning that the vast majority of Nevada is uninhabited by its population of 3.03 million residents. Its largest and most well-known metropolitan areas, which are home to most of its population, are Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Reno-Sparks and Carson City.

• Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise: Situated in Clark County in the southernmost section of the state, this metropolitan area is home to the majority of residents (more than 2 million people). Known primarily for its tourism offerings, the Las Vegas metropolitan area has increasingly become a top business destination, thanks to its business-friendly tax policies and strategic location along Interstate 15, within a five-hour drive of 9 percent of the U.S. population. Tourism, finance/banking, health care/medical services, logistics, manufacturing and technology are key industries. The area is home to Southwest and Allegiant airlines, several major gaming technology companies, resort corporations such as Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts and more. Business, management, education, health care and food-service are some of the occupations employing the most people.
• Reno-Sparks: The second-largest metro area in the state, Reno-Sparks is located in Washoe County, in the northwest corner of the state. It has recently gained notoriety for its growth in technology and manufacturing, with the additions of the Tesla Gigafactory, Amazon, Google, Switch and Panasonic. STEM positions are growing thanks to manufacturing, high-tech and renewable energy growth. With a growing food-and-drink scene, the food-service industry is one of the area’s largest employment sectors; others include sales, business, office workers, construction and production worker.
• Carson City: The capital city is home to more than 55,000 people, and it’s located just 30 minutes south of the Reno-Sparks area, meaning that much of the growth happening in Reno-Sparks is extending to, or affecting, Carson City; the city is currently experiencing a housing boom. Government activity takes place here, and its largest occupations are office/administrative support, health care, food service, sales and construction.

Scholarships and Financial Aid in Nevada

The four basic types of financial aid for students are grants, scholarships, employment programs (such as federal work study) and loans. To access this funding, the first step any prospective college student should take is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This information is not only used by the federal government, but states and private entities often use this information to determine their awards as well.

In Nevada, several funding sources are offered to state residents to help with the cost of college. These include:

The Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship Program: Established in 1999, the Millennium Scholarship has more than doubled the number of students attending colleges and universities in the state. It provides up to $10,000 to Nevada high school graduates for undergraduate coursework at a Nevada college or university. Students must have overall GPAs of at least 3.25 or receive a qualified score on a college entrance exam.

The Silver State Opportunity Grant: This state-supported financial aid program created in 2015 is awarded to low-income students who are college-ready to pay a port of the cost of education at a community college or state college in the NSHE. It’s built on a shared responsibility model and awards grant aid based on the total cost of attendance, including factors such as books and living expenses.

Nevada Promise Scholarship Program: Established in 2017, this scholarship provides last-dollar financial aid to Nevada students attending any of the state’s four community colleges who file the FAFSA and work with mentors to perform 20 hours of community service.

Scholarship Listing

Tests You May Need To Take

There is no single entrance exam required by the state’s colleges. Typically colleges accept either the ACT or SAT for admission. Others, such as Truckee Meadows Community College, have no requirements to submit exam scores for admission, though they may be used for course placement. Be sure to consult your prospective school for information about tests you may need to take.