Nevada State is the Henderson campus a lot of Las Vegas families drive right past on the way to UNLV. It is a four-year public university built around working students, first-generation students, and commuters, and it is the least expensive bachelor’s degree in the Nevada system. Nevada residents don’t even see a tuition line on the bill, just per-credit registration fees, which came to $7,860 for a full-time 2026-27 year.
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Nevada State (Read This First)
The Scorpion Scholarship is automatic, but not guaranteed. Nevada State pays it first come, first served “as funding permits.” For the Class of 2027, the priority dates are December 15, 2026 for the admission application and February 1, 2027 for the 7th semester transcript.
GPA is unweighted and locked in at 7th semester. No ACT or SAT counts. If senior-year grades push your student into a higher tier, nobody upgrades it automatically. You have to tell Admissions and send final transcripts by August 1.
12 credits, every single semester. About two out of three Nevada State students go part-time. The Scorpion award and the Millennium Scholarship both stop paying in any semester your student drops under 12 credits, and the Silver State Opportunity Grant only goes to students taking 15.
January 15 is the money date that matters most. Achieve Nevada, the grant package that can cover tuition and fees for Pell-eligible students, runs off a FAFSA filed by January 15.
The $1,000 Leadership Scholarship has to be claimed. Former high school student government officers with a 2.75 GPA get it, but only if they flag it on the application and apply by April 15.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Nevada State University is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).
Do you need test scores for scholarships at Nevada State University? Nevada State does not use the ACT or SAT for admission or for the Scorpion Scholarship; tiers are based on unweighted GPA through 7th semester.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.
Average net price? About $15,699/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
Yes. It participates in WUE.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Nevada State University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in November 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Nevada State University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$500 to $1,200 more than the in-state total below.$800 to $2,000 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$23,409
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$7,860
Housing & meals (typical)
$15,549
Total billed cost
$23,409
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$40,178
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$24,629
Housing & meals (typical)
$15,549
Total billed cost
$40,178
That is $16,769 more per year than Nevada residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $15,699 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE): Students who graduated from high school in a WUE state or territory, or who have lived in one for at least 12 months, can pay WUE tuition of $113 per credit (half the registration fee) instead of full nonresident tuition. Nevada State lists 2026-27 WUE tuition and fees at $11,250 for 30 credits, compared with $24,629 for a regular nonresident, a savings of about $13,400 a year. WUE states and territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States.
Nevada State lists no GPA or test cutoff for WUE, but only newly admitted degree-seeking students qualify, and the WUE application must be finished before the first day of classes. Once you are on WUE, you cannot be reclassified as a Nevada resident unless you drop WUE and pay full nonresident tuition for 12 months first.
Families outside the WUE region pay full nonresident tuition. Achieve Nevada grants can still cover part of a nonresident's tuition and fees for students with financial need.
📅 Fall 2027 Price Preview (Already Published)
Most colleges make you guess next year’s price. Nevada’s public universities don’t. Under the NSHE Predictable Pricing schedule, Nevada State’s registration fee goes from $226 to $244.50 per credit in 2027-28, and full-time nonresident tuition goes from $16,768 to $18,137. If the smaller per-credit fees stay where they are, a full-time Nevada resident should plan on roughly $8,400 in fees for 2027-28, about $550 more than this year. WUE students pay half the registration fee as tuition, which works out to roughly $12,100 in tuition and fees.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Nevada State University
Why does Nevada State say residents pay no tuition?
Because technically they don’t. Nevada’s public colleges split the bill into “registration fees,” which everyone pays, and “tuition,” which only nonresidents pay. For a Nevada resident, the 2026-27 registration fee is $226 a credit, plus smaller technology, student success, athletics, and safety fees and a $150 building fee each semester. That’s how a full year lands at $7,860.
What will Nevada State cost for a student starting in fall 2027?
The 2027-28 rates are already set: $244.50 a credit in registration fees and $18,137 a year in nonresident tuition. For a full-time Nevada resident, that’s roughly $8,400 in fees before housing. Rates for 2028-29 are on the same schedule ($265.25 a credit), so you can budget four years out.
Why is the “cost of attendance” so much bigger than the bill?
The aid office budget includes things Nevada State never bills you for: books, gas, and personal expenses. For 2026-27, a full-time resident’s budget runs about $24,480 living at home, $29,191 living on campus, and $39,615 renting off campus. The off-campus number is the biggest because it assumes $16,565 a year in Las Vegas-area rent and utilities. The actual bill from Nevada State for a commuter is just the fees.
Does taking 15 credits cost more than taking 12?
Yes. Nevada State charges by the credit, so there’s no flat full-time rate. A 15-credit semester runs about $756 more in fees than a 12-credit semester. It’s usually still worth it: 15 credits keeps a student on a four-year path, and the Silver State Opportunity Grant only pays students taking 15.
Can out-of-state students get a discount?
Students from WUE states (California, Arizona, Hawaii, and the rest of the West) can pay WUE tuition of $113 a credit instead of full nonresident tuition. Nevada State’s own comparison puts WUE at $11,250 for 2026-27 versus $24,629 for a regular nonresident. Two warnings: the WUE form has to be finished before the first day of class, and a WUE student can’t switch to Nevada residency later without dropping WUE and paying full nonresident tuition for 12 months.
Do nursing students pay more?
Yes. Nursing courses in the pre-licensure BSN carry a differential fee of $220 a credit, plus a one-time $175 nursing access fee. Nevada State offers a Nursing Differential Grant for BSN students with the highest need (an SAI of zero or below), and it’s first come, first served.
Is the $15,699 average net price what we’ll actually pay?
It’s the federal average for first-time, full-time Nevada residents who got grant aid in 2023-24, and most of it is living costs, not fees. By income, it ranged from about $11,438 for families under $30,000 to $21,125 for families over $110,000. A commuter who lives at home and gets Pell could pay far less. Run the Net Price Calculator with your own numbers.
📅 Nevada State Scholarship Timeline (Class of 2027)
By December 15, 2026: Apply for admission. This is the Scorpion Scholarship priority date.
By January 15, 2027: File the 2027-28 FAFSA for Achieve Nevada and Nevada State’s need-based grants.
By February 1, 2027: Send the 7th semester (fall of senior year) transcript.
By April 15, 2027: Leadership Scholarship deadline for former student government officers.
By August 1, 2027: Final transcript, if senior grades moved your student into a higher tier.
Parent rule of thumb: the Scorpion money goes out in the order students qualify, so the December date is the real deadline, not a suggestion.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Nevada State University
The Scorpion Academic Scholarship is based on unweighted GPA only. There’s no separate application and no ACT or SAT. Apply for admission by December 15, 2026 and get the 7th semester transcript in by February 1, 2027 to stay at the front of the line.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No application; award letters mailed July and August after graduation, then acknowledge online ✓ Renews (2.75 GPA)
$1,800/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Nevada high school graduates
🎓 All UndergradNevada high school graduates with a 3.25 GPA (weighted or unweighted) or a 21 ACT or 1070 SAT, plus the required core courses (4 English, 4 math including Algebra II, 3 science, 3 history) and at least two years of Nevada residency.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with Nevada State merit, Pell, and other grants. By statute it pays the lesser of the per-credit amount or the costs not already covered by other grants and scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
Pays $60 per credit at Nevada State for up to 15 credits a semester, and only when the student is full-time (12 or more financial aid-eligible credits). Remedial courses are not funded but count toward full-time status. $10,000 lifetime cap; must be used within six years of high school graduation.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nevada graduates who finished the core courses and either kept a 3.25 GPA or reached a 21 ACT or 1070 SAT. At Nevada State it pays $60 a credit, less than the $80 at UNLV and UNR, so it tops out at $1,800 a year here. Students lose it by falling under a 2.75 in two semesters or dropping below 12 credits.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Silver State Opportunity Grant
📅 Deadline: No separate application; file the FAFSA early, because funds run out ✓ Renews
$5,500/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Low-income Nevada residents taking 15 credits
🎓 All UndergradNevada resident for tuition purposes in a degree program, college-ready in math and English, Student Aid Index of 8,500 or less, no prior bachelor's degree, and Satisfactory Academic Progress.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Calculated as the full cost of attendance minus a set $5,500 student share, the SAI, and federal grants, up to $5,500 a year. Money left after fees can be refunded to the student.
💡
Strategic Detail
Leftover spring money is reoffered in February from cancelled awards. Available at Nevada State and the community colleges, not at UNLV or UNR.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Low-income Nevada residents carrying 15 credits who filed the FAFSA early. Nevada State awards it only to students in 15 or more credits, first come, first served, and finished awarding for 2026-27 on September 11, 2026. A student at 12 credits gets nothing.
State AidApp Required⚠ Senior Only
Kenny C. Guinn Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Application opens in February and closes in April (April 10 in 2026); winners chosen in June Non-Renewable
$5,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Senior education majors only
🏫 3.5+ GPA👥 ~Four a year statewide winners/yr🎓 SeniorMillennium-eligible students in or entering their senior year at an eligible college, including Nevada State, with a declared elementary or secondary education major, a 3.5 college GPA, a commitment to teach in Nevada, and a record of community service.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid in one lump sum to the college. It covers tuition, fees, and related costs first, and required books only once those are paid.
📄
How to Apply
Application opens in February and closes in April (April 10 in 2026). Submit a resume, an essay of up to 500 words, a community service statement, one to three recommendation letters sent directly by the writers, and an official college transcript.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Four students a year statewide, two from northern Nevada and two from southern Nevada, chosen by the College Savings Board in June. The winners are education majors with a 3.5 or better who can document real community service and a plan to teach in Nevada.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Scorpion Academic Scholarship: Presidential
📅 Deadline: December 15, 2026 application; February 1, 2027 transcript ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.8+ GPAIncoming first-year students (Class of 2027) with a 3.75 or higher cumulative unweighted GPA through the end of 7th semester. No ACT or SAT is used. Dual credit students still count as first-year admits.
✚
Stacking & Combining
You receive one Scorpion tier, not several. It can sit alongside Pell, the Millennium Scholarship, and outside scholarships, but total aid from all sources cannot exceed the cost of attendance. Paid fall and spring only, never summer.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded first come, first served as funding permits. Must start in the fall semester right after high school graduation. Good for 8 consecutive fall and spring semesters. Requires 12 financial aid-eligible credits every semester (checked after add/drop) and Satisfactory Academic Progress: a 2.0 cumulative NSU GPA and 67% of attempted credits completed. A lost semester can be regained later by returning to full-time and meeting SAP. In a final graduating semester under 12 credits, the award can be prorated (75%, 50%, or 25%) after filing the Scholarship Exception Form.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 3.75 or higher unweighted GPA who applied by mid-December and got the 7th semester transcript in by February 1. The award runs first come, first served as funding permits, so a top student who applies in the spring may find the pool already spent.
Automatic
Scorpion Academic Scholarship: Mount Scorpion Achievement
📅 Deadline: December 15, 2026 application; February 1, 2027 transcript ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPAIncoming first-year students (Class of 2027) with a 3.50 to 3.74 cumulative unweighted GPA through the end of 7th semester. No ACT or SAT is used.
✚
Stacking & Combining
You receive one Scorpion tier, not several. It can sit alongside Pell, the Millennium Scholarship, and outside scholarships, but total aid from all sources cannot exceed the cost of attendance. Paid fall and spring only.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded first come, first served as funding permits. Must start in the fall right after high school graduation. Good for 8 consecutive fall and spring semesters with 12 credits each semester, a 2.0 NSU GPA, and 67% completion.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in the 3.50 to 3.74 unweighted range who applied early. This is where a strong senior year pays off: a student at 3.72 after 7th semester who finishes at 3.75 can move up $1,000 a year, but only by reporting it to Admissions by August 1.
Automatic
Scorpion Academic Scholarship: Black & Gold
📅 Deadline: December 15, 2026 application; February 1, 2027 transcript ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPAIncoming first-year students (Class of 2027) with a 3.25 to 3.49 cumulative unweighted GPA through the end of 7th semester. No ACT or SAT is used.
✚
Stacking & Combining
You receive one Scorpion tier, not several. It can sit alongside Pell, the Millennium Scholarship, and outside scholarships, but total aid from all sources cannot exceed the cost of attendance. Paid fall and spring only.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded first come, first served as funding permits. Must start in the fall right after high school graduation. Good for 8 consecutive fall and spring semesters with 12 credits each semester, a 2.0 NSU GPA, and 67% completion.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Solid B-plus students in the 3.25 to 3.49 unweighted range. At Nevada State's fee level, $2,000 covers roughly a quarter of a resident's yearly bill, which is real money for a commuter family. The students who lose it later usually drop below 12 credits for a semester.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Scorpion Academic Scholarship (NSHE Community College Transfer)
📅 Deadline: July 1, 2027 application; August 1, 2027 transcript (fall 2027 entry) ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 2 yrs)
$2,000–$4,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Nevada community college graduates only
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 TransferMust earn an AA, AS, or AB from CSN, GBC, TMCC, or WNC in the semester right before starting at Nevada State (summer does not count as a gap), with a 3.25 or higher cumulative GPA. The associate degree must be the student's first degree, and the student must be new to Nevada State (high school dual credit is the exception).
💡
Strategic Detail
Uses the same three GPA levels as the freshman Scorpion (3.75 for $4,000, 3.50 for $3,000, 3.25 for $2,000). Awarded in fall and spring for 4 consecutive semesters. Nevada State says the award may be met with a combination of scholarships and grants, so grant money you already receive can count toward this amount instead of stacking on top. Online RN to BSN admits are not eligible.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Community college graduates from CSN, TMCC, Western Nevada College, or Great Basin who finish an associate degree with a 3.25 or better and start at Nevada State the very next semester. Students who sit out a semester after the associate degree, or who already hold another degree, are not eligible.
App Required
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Tuition Discount
📅 Deadline: Before your first day of classes ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Residents or graduates of WUE states and territories only
Newly admitted degree-seeking students (first-year or transfer) who graduated from high school in a WUE state or territory, or who were legal residents of one for at least 12 months before the term starts. Must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Works alongside the Scorpion Scholarship and need-based grants. WUE replaces nonresident tuition; you still pay the same registration fees as Nevada residents.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Nevada State WUE application and submit it to the Office of the Registrar from your official Nevada State email account. It must be finished before your first semester begins.
💡
Strategic Detail
Nevada State's 2026-27 comparison lists WUE tuition and fees at $11,250 for 30 credits versus $24,629 for a regular nonresident. Students approved for WUE cannot be reclassified as Nevada residents unless they leave WUE and pay full nonresident tuition for 12 months first.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students from California, Arizona, Hawaii, and other western states who file the WUE form before classes start. Nevada State lists no GPA or test cutoff, so the families who miss it are usually the ones who enroll first and ask about WUE later.
Data last verified Nov 3, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Nevada State awards the Scorpion Scholarship “as funding permits,” first come, first served, so meeting the GPA isn’t a guarantee for a late applicant. Your student gets one tier, paid in fall and spring only.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Nevada State University)
Does my student need an ACT or SAT score?
No. Nevada State doesn’t use test scores for admission or for the Scorpion Scholarship. The tiers are based only on cumulative unweighted GPA through the end of 7th semester: 3.75 for Presidential ($4,000 a year), 3.50 for Mount Scorpion Achievement ($3,000), and 3.25 for Black & Gold ($2,000).
Is the Scorpion Scholarship guaranteed if my student meets the GPA?
Not quite. It’s automatic, meaning no essay or form, but Nevada State pays it first come, first served as funding permits. Students who apply and send transcripts after the priority dates are considered only if money is left.
What if my student’s GPA goes up during senior year?
You can move up a tier, but only if you ask. Tell the Admissions Office and send the final high school transcript by August 1. Nevada State won’t recheck it on its own.
How does my student keep the scholarship?
Stay full-time (12 financial aid-eligible credits, checked after add/drop each semester) and keep Satisfactory Academic Progress, which means a 2.0 Nevada State GPA and finishing 67% of attempted credits. It covers 8 consecutive fall and spring semesters. A student who loses it for a semester can get it back in a later semester by returning to full-time and meeting SAP.
Does my student have to start in the fall?
Yes. The freshman award is given once a year for the fall semester right after high school graduation. A student who takes a gap semester or starts in spring misses it.
Can dual credit students still get it?
Yes. Nevada State says every first-year admit is a candidate, including students who already took Nevada State dual credit classes in high school.
Is there a version for community college transfers?
Yes. Graduates of CSN, TMCC, Western Nevada College, or Great Basin with an associate degree and a 3.25 GPA can get the same three tiers for 4 semesters. They have to start at Nevada State the semester right after finishing the associate degree, and grant money they already get can count toward the award.
How does the Millennium Scholarship work at Nevada State?
It pays $60 a credit here for up to 15 credits a semester, which tops out at $1,800 a year. That’s less than the $80 a credit at UNLV and UNR, because Nevada State’s fees are lower. It only pays in semesters where your student takes at least 12 credits.
Nevada State doesn’t run a big competitive full-ride or full-tuition contest. The one competitive pool is the Nevada State University Foundation application, which matches students to about 100 donor scholarships a year. Most of the money at Nevada State comes from the automatic Scorpion award and from need-based grants instead.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Nevada State?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Parent Translation
Scorpion Scholarship tiers
N/A
Your student gets one tier, paid fall and spring only.
Foundation scholarships
Yes
Donor awards sit on top of the Scorpion award. Reapply every year.
Pell and Achieve Nevada grants
Yes
Need-based money is built to work alongside merit, which is why the January 15 FAFSA date matters.
Millennium Scholarship
Usually
Pays the lesser of $60 a credit or what other grants haven’t already covered, so it can shrink if the bill is already paid.
Transfer Scorpion award
Partly
Nevada State says grants can count toward the transfer award amount, so it may not land on top.
Everything combined
Capped
Total aid from all sources can’t go over the cost of attendance.
Here’s the honest version: if your student is hunting for an essay-and-interview full ride, Nevada State isn’t that kind of school. Its pitch is that the sticker price is already low enough that automatic merit plus grants can cover most of the bill for a commuter. The Foundation application is still worth the hour it takes, especially for nursing, education, and arts majors.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Nevada State University Foundation Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Opens December 15, 2026; closes spring 2027 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~About 100 awards a year winners/yr🎓 All UndergradOpen to Nevada State students across the Schools of Education, Nursing, and Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Business. Each donor fund sets its own criteria (major, need, or background).
✚
Stacking & Combining
Foundation awards stack with the Scorpion Scholarship and grants, up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the one Foundation scholarship application each year. The 2027-28 application opens December 15, 2026 and closes in the spring. Faculty committees review applications and match students to donor funds.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Foundation says it awards nearly $325,000 a year. Examples from 2025-26: Amanda Howard Nursing (six awards totaling $16,000), Roberto's Taco Shop (five totaling $15,000), Dietrich Trust for education majors (three totaling $10,000), AGEM Visual Media (nine totaling $9,000), Henderson Chamber of Commerce (two $2,500 awards), Evelyn Anderson May (eleven $1,000 awards). Reapply every year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose declared major matches a donor fund. More than half of the 2025-26 awards were tied to a specific major (nursing, education, business, arts, deaf studies, or STEM), so a student who leaves the major blank shrinks their own odds.
Data last verified Nov 3, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Foundation and Competitive Scholarship FAQs
When does the Foundation scholarship application open?
The 2027-28 application opens December 15, 2026 and closes in the spring. It’s one application that covers all of the Foundation’s donor funds.
How much money is there?
The Foundation says it awards nearly $325,000 a year, about 100 scholarships. Most individual awards in 2025-26 were in the $1,000 to $3,000 range.
Which students win Foundation scholarships?
The ones whose major matches a donor fund. More than half of the 2025-26 awards were tied to specific majors, like the Amanda Howard Nursing Scholarship (six awards totaling $16,000), the Dietrich Trust Scholarship for education majors, and the AGEM Visual Media Scholarship for arts majors. Declaring a major before applying helps.
Does Nevada State offer a full-ride or National Merit package?
No. Nevada State doesn’t have a full-tuition or full-ride competitive scholarship or a National Merit sponsorship. The biggest single awards here are need-based, like Achieve Nevada and the MARCOS STEM scholarship.
What should my student prepare?
A short list of activities, jobs, and community service, plus a clear reason for picking their major. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder can help organize it.
🧠 Parent Strategy: At Nevada State, the FAFSA Is the Scholarship Application
Most of the real money at Nevada State isn’t merit. It’s need-based grant money that goes out first come, first served. Here’s the order that gets your student the most:
File the 2027-28 FAFSA in October or November, and no later than January 15, 2027. Families who can’t file the FAFSA use Nevada State’s Non-Federal Aid Application instead.
If your student is first-generation, apply for First & Fierce and set a reminder to reapply every semester.
If your student held a student government office, claim the Leadership Scholarship by April 15.
Chase small local scholarships too. Nevada State matches outside awards with up to $500 a semester.
Parent translation: two families with the same income can get very different packages at Nevada State. The difference is usually who filed first.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards don’t show up on the main admissions page, but they’re where Nevada State really becomes affordable. Most depend on the FAFSA, a first-generation background, or a specific major.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Achieve Nevada
📅 Deadline: FAFSA by January 15, 2027 ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Pell-eligible students, or an SAI under 12,000
🎓 All UndergradPell Grant eligible students who complete the FAFSA by January 15 can have tuition and other costs such as textbooks covered. Students who are not Pell eligible but have a Student Aid Index below 12,000 can save up to 60% on fees. New and continuing students qualify, and nonresidents can receive funding toward part of their tuition and fees.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Achieve Nevada is a bundle of Pell plus Nevada State grants, so it is built to sit alongside the Scorpion Scholarship and Millennium rather than replace them. Total aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Funded through the Nevada State Access Grant (state and institutional money for Pell recipients with an SAI of 12,000 or less, January 15 priority date), the Nevada State University Grant (non-Pell, SAI 12,000 or less, January 15 priority date), and the Nevada State Opportunity Grant (students who cannot receive federal aid). Amounts depend on SAI and credit load. Students do not have to be full-time. Reapply every year by filing the FAFSA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Pell-eligible families who filed the FAFSA before January 15. The Nevada State Access Grant inside the package runs first come, first served, so early filers get first claim on the money. Families just above Pell with an SAI under 12,000 can still get a grant covering up to 60% of fees.
App Required
Nevada State University Leadership Scholarship
📅 Deadline: April 15 Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Former high school student government officers
🏫 2.8+ GPAIncoming freshmen who served as an officer in high school student government, have an unweighted high school GPA of 2.75 or higher, and enroll full-time in a degree program.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid on top of the Scorpion Scholarship and need-based grants, within the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Tell Nevada State you served as a high school student government officer when you submit your admission application, then complete the Leadership Scholarship form by April 15. Questions go to recruitment@nevadastate.edu.
💡
Strategic Detail
The form currently posted is for 2026-27; expect a 2027-28 version. The student must enroll full-time in a degree program in the first semester.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High school student body or class officers with a 2.75 unweighted GPA who mention it. Nevada State calls April 15 its guaranteed scholarship deadline, so qualified students who apply on time get it; the ones who miss out simply never heard about it.
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All UndergradFreshmen and sophomores with fewer than 60 completed college credits, majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Psychology (non-clinical), who complete the FAFSA, are Pell Grant eligible, and have and keep a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Must take at least 12 credits a semester.
✚
Stacking & Combining
The award is sized to Pell eligibility and unmet financial need, so it fills the gap left after other aid rather than piling on top of it.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA and confirm Pell eligibility, then apply when the next cohort opens. Recruitment for Cohort 3 is expected to begin in spring 2027; Cohort 2's priority deadline was June 30, 2026.
💡
Strategic Detail
Funded by NSF S-STEM (Grant No. 2526880). Scholars also get a dedicated faculty mentor, priority registration, a STEM learning community with block-scheduled classes, $500 stipends for internships or undergraduate research, and conference travel funding.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pell-eligible biology, chemistry, environmental science, and non-clinical psychology students with a 3.0 who apply when a cohort is recruiting. The money comes in cycles tied to a National Science Foundation grant, so timing matters as much as grades.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
First & Fierce Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Reapply each semester ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
$500–$1,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ First-generation college students
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 All UndergradNevada State counts you as first-generation if your parents or guardians did not attend college, attended but did not finish a bachelor's degree, or attended college outside the United States. Must keep a 2.0 GPA and enroll in at least 6 credits.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the Scorpion Scholarship and grants, within the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply every semester through First & Fierce. Questions go to firstandfierce@nevadastate.edu.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded one semester at a time; there is no automatic renewal, so a student who forgets to reapply gets nothing that term.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-generation students who remember to reapply every single semester. It only takes 6 credits and a 2.0, so part-time and working students qualify too, which is unusual for scholarship money.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Matching Scholarship Program
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2.75 GPA)
$500
✔ Stackable
⚠ Students who win an outside scholarship
🏫 2.8+ GPA🎓 All UndergradNew and continuing degree-seeking students with a 2.75 cumulative Nevada State GPA, Satisfactory Academic Progress, and full-time enrollment (12 undergraduate financial aid-eligible credits) who receive a scholarship from an outside agency.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Matches outside awards only, not scholarships from Nevada State, NSHE, or the State of Nevada. It will not be paid if it pushes total aid past the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Disbursement is held each semester until after enrollment cancellation for non-attendance. The 2.75 requirement is a cumulative Nevada State GPA, so a brand-new freshman should confirm with financial aid how a first-semester match is handled.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Full-time students with a 2.75 Nevada State GPA who win any outside scholarship, from a church, employer, or local club award to a national one. Nevada State adds up to $500 a semester, which makes small local scholarships worth chasing.
Data last verified Nov 3, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyApp Required
TheDream.US National Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2027 ✓ Renews
$36,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Undocumented, DACA, and TPS students
🏫 2.5+ GPAFirst-generation immigrant students who came to the U.S. before age 16 and before November 1, 2021, are not eligible for federal student aid, will have a high school diploma or GED by fall 2027 with a 2.5 GPA or better, show significant unmet need, plan to enroll full-time, and are eligible for in-state tuition at a public partner college in their state.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Nevada State has supported more than 100 TheDream.US scholars. Nevada State's own grants can also go to students who cannot receive federal aid through the Non-Federal Aid Application.
📄
How to Apply
Apply online through TheDream.US between November 1, 2026 and February 28, 2027. Notifications go out in late April 2027. Renew each June.
💡
Strategic Detail
Nevada State and UNLV are the two Nevada partner colleges. The award follows the student through the bachelor's degree with continuing eligibility checks.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Undocumented, DACA, and TPS students who arrived before age 16 and before November 1, 2021, have a 2.5 GPA, and qualify for in-state tuition at a Nevada partner college. TheDream.US says it weighs community service and persistence through barriers heavily, not just grades.
Data last verified Nov 3, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
What is Achieve Nevada?
It’s Nevada State’s need-based grant package. Students who are Pell eligible and file the FAFSA by January 15 can have tuition and extra costs like textbooks covered. Students who just miss Pell but have a Student Aid Index under 12,000 can still save up to 60% on fees. Nonresidents and part-time students can get it too.
Who counts as first-generation for First & Fierce?
Nevada State’s definition is generous: your student counts if neither parent attended college, if a parent attended but didn’t finish a bachelor’s degree, or if a parent went to college outside the United States. The scholarship pays $1,000 in fall or spring and $500 in summer, needs only 6 credits and a 2.0 GPA, and has to be reapplied for every semester.
How does the Matching Scholarship work?
If your student wins an outside scholarship (from a church, employer, local club, or national program), Nevada State adds up to $500 a semester on top. Students need a 2.75 Nevada State GPA and full-time enrollment. Awards from Nevada State, NSHE, or the State of Nevada don’t count as “outside.”
What is the MARCOS scholarship and when can my student apply?
MARCOS is a National Science Foundation scholarship worth up to $15,000 a year for Pell-eligible biology, chemistry, environmental science, and non-clinical psychology majors with a 3.0 GPA and fewer than 60 credits. It also comes with a faculty mentor and priority registration. The last cohort closed June 30, 2026, and the next round is expected to open in spring 2027.
Is there help for undocumented or DACA students?
Yes. Nevada State is a TheDream.US partner college, and that scholarship pays up to $36,000 toward a bachelor’s degree plus up to $6,000 in stipends. The 2027-28 application closes February 28, 2027. Nevada State’s own Opportunity Grant also helps students who can’t receive federal aid, through the Non-Federal Aid Application.
Straight answer: Nevada State doesn’t have an honors college or a separate honors program you apply to, and there’s no honors scholarship pool. That’s not unusual for a teaching-focused university of this size. What Nevada State does have are small first-year cohorts that give students the same “smaller group, closer to faculty” experience families usually look to honors for.
Scholars Programs: Humanities, Nursing, and Education cohorts for incoming first-year students. Each one includes a two-day summer bridge in August, a first-year class taken with the cohort, a faculty mentor, and scholarships open only to program members. Nevada State has posted these for fall 2026 so far, without dollar amounts.
MARCOS Scholars: A mentored STEM cohort with block-scheduled classes, research stipends, and up to $15,000 a year for Pell-eligible students (details in Hidden Gems above).
Honors Scholarships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
There are no honors-only scholarships at Nevada State right now. If a program and scholarships are added later, they’ll show up here.
Recognition Your Student Can Still Earn
Dean’s List: a 3.5 semester GPA in 12 or more graded credits.
President’s List: a 4.0 semester GPA in 12 or more graded credits.
Latin honors at graduation: a 3.5 cumulative GPA, with at least 30 upper-division credits taken at Nevada State.
Honors FAQs (Nevada State University)
Does Nevada State have an honors college?
No. There’s no honors college, honors program, or honors scholarship. The closest equivalents are the Scholars Programs for first-year students and the MARCOS STEM cohort.
How does my student join a Scholars Program?
Apply as an incoming first-year student, pick one program (Humanities, Nursing, or Education), then attend the summer bridge and take the cohort’s first-year class (ALS 101N) in the fall. Students have to finish those requirements to be eligible for the program’s scholarship. The 2026 priority deadline was April 17, so watch for the 2027 version in the spring.
My student is a high achiever. Should we rule out Nevada State?
Not automatically. A 3.75 student gets the top $4,000 Scorpion award against a resident bill of about $7,860, and there’s no honors application standing between them and that money. If your student wants a formal honors curriculum, though, UNLV and UNR both have honors colleges.
Nevada State is a teaching university, not a research one, and that’s the point. Classes are taught by faculty who are there to teach, the student body is mostly first-generation and working students, and the school leans hard into careers Nevada is short on: nurses and teachers above all. It’s also one of the most diverse campuses in the state, recognized as both a Hispanic-Serving and an Asian American and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution.
Nationally Known Program: School of Nursing: Nursing is far and away Nevada State’s biggest program. In 2023-24, 313 of its 812 bachelor’s degrees went to nursing grads, and Nevada State reports it delivers about 43% of the nursing credit hours in the entire Nevada system. The BSN is accredited by CCNE, and Nevada State says its NCLEX licensing pass rates are among the highest in the state while costing far less than private nursing programs in the valley.
Education: The second-largest program, turning out elementary, secondary, special education, and bilingual teachers for Clark County. Future teachers should look at the state’s Teach Nevada Scholarship, which can cover tuition and fees for students who commit to teaching in a Nevada public school.
Speech-Language Pathology and Deaf Studies: A rare pair for a school this size, with an undergraduate path into speech pathology, an accredited master’s program, and a Deaf Studies major plus an ASL interpreting minor.
Psychology and Criminal Justice: Two of the most popular majors, with criminal justice also offered fully online.
Business and Data Science: A BSBA in business and a newer data science degree, both offered on campus or in hybrid format.
Growing fast: Nevada State set an enrollment record of more than 8,800 students in fall 2026 and is building a North Las Vegas campus scheduled to open in fall 2027.
🔗 Official Nevada State University Links
Use Nevada State’s official pages below to double-check admissions requirements, scholarship rules, costs, and deadlines. Always go by these pages for final deadlines and award terms.
Nevada State is the rare college where the sticker price is already the good news. A Nevada resident pays about $7,860 in fees for a full year, and the GPA-only Scorpion Scholarship can knock $2,000 to $4,000 off that without a single test score or essay. For a family that qualifies for Pell, Achieve Nevada can cover most of what’s left.
The catch is that almost everything here runs on timing and credits. The Scorpion money goes out first come, first served, Achieve Nevada keys off a January 15 FAFSA, and both the merit award and the Millennium Scholarship stop in any semester your student drops under 12 credits. If your student wants nursing, teaching, or speech pathology and plans to live at home in the valley, few schools in the West will get them a bachelor’s degree for less. Apply by mid-December, file the FAFSA early, and keep a full load.
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Written by Leo Dimilo
I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me.
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