Head-to-head comparison
University of Nevada-Reno vs Truckee Meadows Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Reno, NV
University of Nevada-Reno
- Net price / year
- $15,927
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,614
- Payback
- 5.2 yrs
Option B Reno, NV
Truckee Meadows Community College
- Net price / year
- $8,312
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,573
- Payback
- No payback
University of Nevada-Reno has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $63,708 in 5.2 years versus not at all at Truckee Meadows Community College, on median earnings of $60,614 vs $44,573 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Nevada-Reno | Truckee Meadows Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,927 | $8,312 |
| Total net cost | $63,708 | $33,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,614 | $44,573 |
| Median debt | $18,922 | $11,000 |
| Payback | 5.2 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $181,372 | -$108,988 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Nevada-Reno or Truckee Meadows Community College?
Truckee Meadows Community College, at $8,312 a year after aid versus $15,927 — a gap of $7,615 a year, or $30,460 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Nevada-Reno or Truckee Meadows Community College graduates earn more?
University of Nevada-Reno graduates report a median $60,614 ten years after entry, $16,041 more than the $44,573 at Truckee Meadows Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Nevada-Reno or Truckee Meadows Community College?
Truckee Meadows Community College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $18,922 at University of Nevada-Reno, a difference of $7,922. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
61% of students finish at University of Nevada-Reno, against 32% at Truckee Meadows Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.