Las Vegas's community college
built for the transfer track
You're deciding whether to spend your first two years at College of Southern Nevada before finishing a bachelor's elsewhere in Nevada. That choice involves real numbers: transfer rates, earnings after graduation, and what it actually costs you out of pocket.
28,000+ undergrads, 22% transfer out by year 8, median $38k 10-yr earnings, $8,000 median debt.
Las Vegas's largest CC with a functional transfer track record and low debt
College of Southern Nevada enrolls 28,313 undergrads across its Las Vegas campuses, making it the biggest community college in Nevada. Twenty-two percent of students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years — a solid result for a campus where 67% attend part-time. Median earnings sit at $38k ten years out, and median debt is just $8,000, with a 0% three-year loan default rate. Top programs by volume include Liberal Arts and Sciences (644 completions), Business Administration (417), and Computer Networking (319). In-district tuition is $3,464 and net price is $6,615.
College of Southern Nevada is based in Las Vegas and enrolls 28,313 undergraduates — the largest community college in the state, though 67% of students attend part-time. That majority matters: many here are balancing jobs or family alongside coursework, and timelines stretch accordingly. The top program by completions is Liberal Arts and Sciences at 644, followed by General Studies (429), Business Administration and Management (417), and Computer Systems Networking (319) — a mix that covers both transfer-prep and workforce paths. The eight-year transfer-out rate is 22%, above the 20% mark that separates functional feeders from enrollment holding patterns. Median earnings ten years out are $38k, median debt is $8,000, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-district tuition runs $3,464 annually with a net price of $6,615. For a cost-conscious Nevada student aiming at a bachelor's degree, CSN's combination of low debt, real transfer volume, and broad program offerings makes it a viable starting point.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 644 |
| General Studies. | 429 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 417 |
| Science Technologies/Technicians, Other. | 348 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 319 |
| Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide. | 300 |
| Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. | 240 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 184 |
| Psychology, General. | 167 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 138 |
Source · IPEDS completions (all undergraduate credentials).
Where Nevada transfers tend to go
Reflects state-aggregated IPEDS transfer-in volume — CC-specific destinations are not publicly available from IPEDS or the College Scorecard.
| Destination | Transfers in |
|---|---|
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas | — |
| University of Nevada-Reno | — |
| Nevada State University | — |
Frequently asked
- Is College of Southern Nevada a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- The data supports it more than many community colleges. Twenty-two percent of CSN students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years — a meaningful number given that 67% of undergrads attend part-time, which naturally extends timelines. In-district tuition is $3,464 and net price is $6,615, so you're unlikely to accumulate serious debt here — median borrower debt is $8,000. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $38k, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. That combination of low cost, real transfer activity, and a clean debt profile makes CSN a reasonable foundation for a bachelor's, particularly for Nevada residents who plan to finish at a four-year institution in the state.
- How does College of Southern Nevada's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- CSN's eight-year transfer-out rate is 22%. National research places the average community college transfer rate in the 15–25% range, so CSN sits within that window and at the higher end given that two-thirds of its students attend part-time — a factor that consistently depresses measured transfer rates. An additional 3% of students were still enrolled at the eight-year mark, and 26% had completed a credential at CSN itself. Taken together, these figures suggest CSN is functioning as an active feeder into the four-year system. The part-time context is important: a 22% transfer rate on a campus where most students are juggling external obligations is a different story than 22% on a traditional full-time campus.
- What programs does College of Southern Nevada offer at meaningful scale?
- CSN's highest-volume programs by completions are Liberal Arts and Sciences (644), General Studies (429), Business Administration and Management (417), Science Technologies (348), and Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (319). Nursing Assistant and Patient Care (300), Computer and Information Systems Security (240), and Registered Nursing (184) round out the upper tier. Psychology produced 167 completions and Criminal Justice 138. The breadth matters: whether you're targeting a business transfer, a health-sciences path, or a computing-related field, CSN has enough volume that advising resources, course sections, and completion infrastructure are genuinely developed across those tracks.
Methodology — Transfer signals reflect IPEDS Outcome Measures 8-year cohorts; earnings and debt come from the College Scorecard. Destinations are state-aggregated; we do not claim CC-specific transfer destinations without authoritative per-student tracking data.