Your Nevada guide to Student Loans, Scholarships & Grants

Return To "Browse by State"

22 Resources Nevada Residents Should Know About Paying for College

As a resident of Nevada, you’re probably well aware of all that your state has to offer, including:

Scenic mountains…

Vast deserts…

An abundance of natural gold…

(And speaking of which) the ever popular, city of Las Vegas.

But what you may not know is that Nevada offers extensive financial aid opportunities available to Nevada residents who plan to go to college..

From career-based scholarships to need-based scholarships, Nevada is committed to making college affordable for students. Plus,  there are even more financial aid opportunities beyond state funding.

Let’s take a look at some of ways that you can start researching how to pay for college.

Step 1: Apply for Federal Funding

When first researching funding, look no further than the FAFSA.

The FAFSA, which stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, can be the ultimate start to paying for your education. From direct tuition aid to automatically applying you for certain scholarships you might be eligible for, the FAFSA is a fantastic resource.

However, even though the financial aid opportunities are amazing, the form itself is not. Many students find it difficult to complete because it is lengthy and confusing. That’s why we created a step-by-step guide to completing the FAFSA questions to help you get through the form more easily.

Step 2: Apply for State Funding and Scholarships

Once you’ve filled out the FAFSA, you should look into state financial aid resources. And luckily for you, as a student in Nevada, you have many opportunities to receive funding.

Right off the bat, you can check out the state of Nevada’s list of scholarships and grants, which are listed by subject in this helpful brochure. While it is amazing how many available opportunities there are, it can also be difficult to know where to begin.

That’s why we’ve listed some of the major scholarships available to Nevada students.

Nevada scholarships include:

To reduce out-of-pocket tuition costs, you should apply to as many scholarships and grants as you can. Remember, scholarships and grants do not need to be repaid, so don’t leave that “free money” on the table!

Step 3: Apply for Institutional, Local, and National Scholarships

If you’re a high school student, don’t overlook one of your most-important sources of scholarship info: your guidance counselor. Schedule regular appointments to see if any new opportunities have become available.

You can also search for scholarships online through any number of search engines, such as CollegeScholarships.com (which lists 41 scholarships for NV residents). Try searching by major, extra-curricular activities, nationality, or any other characteristic that sets you apart.

Another great opportunity to receive funding is through the school that you are admitted to. Most schools have extensive financial aid opportunities and can help you.

For example, the College of Southern Nevada provides students with many resources, such as work-study financial aid, to help bridge the gap between your tuition costs and your savings.

There are also academic scholarships available based on categories such as subject area or background. For example, the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships gives financial aid to selected students studying STEM subjects.

Additionally, students who are looking to transfer from a community college to the College of Southern Nevada may be eligible for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship.

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) is committed to admitting passionate and smart students. That’s why they offer the Presidential Scholarship of $8,000 per year to high-achieving students. UNR also awards the Nevada Scholars Level Scholarship as well as the Pack Pride Level Scholarships, both of which are merit-based scholarships for students who are not necessarily at the top of their class. UNR additionally provides grants to students in financial need.

There are many other colleges and higher education institutions in Nevada that offer financial aid, so be sure to check out the financial aid web pages of any and all that you apply to.

Step 4: Apply for a Private Loan

If you’re still unsure how to pay for the rest of your tuition, it might be time to consider a private student loan.

Taking out a loan is a serious financial decision. That’s why we’ve found the best banks for private student loans to help ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.

It is also essential that you can plan for your finances before, throughout, and after college. We created NitroScore to help you forecast how your college loan payments will fit into your post-college finances. Our NitroScore tool will take into consideration your school, major, savings and scholarships, as well as your loans.

Now that you have these tools, financing your education is within your reach!

Best Banks for Private Student Loans in 2022. Get Your Rate.

Additional Nitro Recommended Student Loan Lenders

Lender Rates (APR) Loan Types Terms Eligible Degrees Eligible Loans  
4.15% - 15.70%1 Variable & Fixed 10 - 15 years

Undergrad Students Learn More

View Disclosure