Federal
Federal Pell Grant
Up to $7,395 a year (2026–27)
Who qualifies: undergraduates with financial need, based on the FAFSA. It never has to be repaid.
How: file the FAFSA.
Official rules →Paying for community college · Las Vegas, NV
How students pay for College of Southern Nevada
Sticker price $14,106 a year. After grants, the average student pays $6,016, and what you pay depends on your family's income: anywhere from $5,309 to $12,856.
- 27,252undergraduates
- 22%graduate
- 14%get a grant from the school
Free tuition program
Nevada Promise Scholarship
Who: Nevada residents graduating from a Nevada (or border-county) high school or finishing a high school equivalency, with no prior degree, who enroll in at least 12 credits the fall after graduating What: Last-dollar scholarship covering up to three years of tuition and registration fees not covered by other gift aid
Official details →What it costs, by family income
Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, paying in-state tuition. Tap your bracket.
Out-of-state tuition is $13,475 a year versus $4,575 for Nevada residents, so non-residents usually pay far more than these figures.
Where the money comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each type of aid, and the average amount.
14%grant from College of Southern Nevadaavg $2,729
53%Federal Pell Grantavg $5,187
52%state grantavg $1,999
10%federal student loanavg $3,427
Scholarships from College of Southern Nevada
Awards the school itself offers, as published on its own website (checked 2026-10-28). Amounts and deadlines change: confirm on the linked page.
- Silver State Opportunity Grant (awarded by CSN)
Students with financial need on the FAFSA; CSN gives priority to a Student Aid Index of -1,500 to 0 and enrollment in at least 15 credits.
Grants and scholarships you can apply for
State grant · Nevada
Silver State Opportunity Grant
Up to $5,500 a year, or $4,400 at 12 credits a semester (2025-26 figures; the 2026-27 amount is not yet published).
Who qualifies: Nevada residents at the College of Southern Nevada, Great Basin College, Nevada State University, Truckee Meadows Community College or Western Nevada College, with a Student Aid Index of 8,500 or less, taking at least 12 credits, ready for college-level math and English, and without a bachelor's degree.
How: File the FAFSA as early as possible. No state deadline is published; money is limited and goes first to students taking 15 credits, then to those with the lowest Student Aid Index.
Official rules →State grant · Nevada
Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship
$80 a credit at the universities, $60 at Nevada State, $40-$60 at community colleges, for up to 15 credits a semester. Lifetime maximum $10,000.
Who qualifies: Students who graduate with a Nevada high school diploma, lived in Nevada for at least two years of high school, and earned a 3.25 GPA or scored 21 on the ACT or 1070 on the SAT. It expires six years after high school graduation.
How: No application: your high school reports eligible students to the State Treasurer each July, and you then accept the award online.
Official rules →State grant · Nevada
Nevada Promise Scholarship
Pays registration and some mandatory fees left after other grants, for up to three years at a Nevada community college.
Who qualifies: Nevada residents graduating from a Nevada high school (or passing a GED, HiSET or TASC before age 20), who enroll in at least 12 credits at a community college the fall after graduation.
How: Class of 2027: apply by 31 October 2026, file the 2027-28 FAFSA by 1 April 2027, complete training, 8 hours of community service by 1 May 2027 and a mentor meeting by 1 July 2027.
Official rules →State grants follow your home state, not the school's: check your own state's programs if you are coming from elsewhere.
Living in Las Vegas
| Studio | $1,260/mo |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom | $1,380/mo |
| Two-bedroom, shared | $810/mo each |
HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents, campus ZIP 89146. Campus housing is often cheaper in the first year.
Working while you study
$12.00/hour minimum wage in Nevada
15 hours a week over a 30-week academic year ≈ $5,400 before tax. That covers about 7 months of a shared room.
Minimum wage: workers paid less than 1.5 times the minimum earn overtime after 8 hours in a day. Ask the financial aid office whether you qualify for Federal Work-Study.
After graduation
$8,000median federal debt≈ $91/month over 10 years
$44,658median earnings10 years after enrolling
22%graduate within 6 yearsfirst-time students
Close the gap without another loan
Since July 2026 Parent PLUS loans are capped, so more families are left with a gap after aid. Students use My Study Fund to collect monthly support from family, friends and mentors: 20 people giving $25 a month is $6,000 a year, and you receive every dollar.
Questions students ask about paying for College of Southern Nevada
Does College of Southern Nevada offer free tuition?
Yes: Nevada Promise Scholarship. Nevada residents graduating from a Nevada (or border-county) high school or finishing a high school equivalency, with no prior degree, who enroll in at least 12 credits the fall after graduating Last-dollar scholarship covering up to three years of tuition and registration fees not covered by other gift aid.
What scholarships does College of Southern Nevada offer?
Silver State Opportunity Grant (awarded by CSN) (Not published). Details and deadlines are on the school's financial aid pages.
How much does College of Southern Nevada really cost after financial aid?
The average student who received aid paid $6,016 a year after grants and scholarships. By family income it ranges from $5,309 to $12,856. The full cost of attendance before aid is $14,106.
Does College of Southern Nevada give scholarships and grants?
Yes. 14% of first-year students received a grant from College of Southern Nevada itself, averaging $2,729. 53% received a Federal Pell Grant (average $5,187).
How much is rent near College of Southern Nevada?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for the campus ZIP code (89146) is $1,380 a month for a one-bedroom and $1,620 for a two-bedroom, about $810 each when shared.
Can I work part-time while studying at College of Southern Nevada?
Yes. The minimum wage in Nevada is $12.00 an hour; 15 hours a week over a 30-week academic year earns about $5,400 before tax.
How much debt do College of Southern Nevada graduates have?
The median federal debt at graduation is $8,000, about $91 a month on a 10-year plan. Median earnings ten years after enrolling are $44,658.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 10152026) and IPEDS (SFA2223 student financial aid, first-time full-time students); HUD FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents; state and federal program pages linked above, checked 2026-10-28. My Study Fund is not affiliated with College of Southern Nevada. How these pages work.
More in Nevada: All colleges in Nevada →