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Great Basin College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Elko, NV · 1,900 students

The verdict

Great Basin College charges a net price of $8,471/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $33,884. Median earnings ten years after entry are $39,289, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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On institution-wide earnings, Great Basin College does not clear its cost — it ranks #10 of 22 Nevada colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.

$8,471
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$39,289
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
Payback
Our math, 2026
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Great Basin College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$8,471/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$33,884our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$39,289Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$-9,071/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$15,750Scorecard, 2026
Paybackdoes not clearour math
20-year net return$-215,304our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.

Great Basin College: frequently asked questions

Is Great Basin College worth the cost?
On institution-wide earnings, the degree does not clear its cost: graduates earn a median $39,289, at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. The field you study matters far more here than the school average — a high-paying major can flip the math.
How long does a Great Basin College degree take to pay off?
On institution-wide earnings it does not pay back, because median earnings sit at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. A specific high-ROI program can still pay off.
How much does Great Basin College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $8,471/yr — about $33,884 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Great Basin College compare to other Nevada colleges?
It ranks #10 of 22 Nevada colleges we track by payback. Its $39,289 median earnings trail the national median of $43,552, and its $8,471 net price is below the national median of $16,906.