Great Basin College

Staff Writers

At Great Basin College, students can pursue associate and baccalaureate level instruction in technical training and academic areas. The institution opened in 1967, and two years later joined the University of Nevada system in August 1969. Some may know it formerly as “Elko College” or “Northern Nevada College.”

Admissions

Great Basin College has approximately 4,000 students enrolled annually. The acceptance rate is 100%, which means there is a place for everyone to pursue higher education! However, individual courses may have prerequisites that need to be completed first. Some courses and programs may also be limited in enrollment because of limited facilities or by their nature. But, at the end of the day, there is a place for every student at Great Basin College regardless of their academic background.

Tuition

For the 2019-2020 academic year, in-state tuition at Great Basin College averaged out to $3,248 and out-of-state tuition averaged out to $10,603. Room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and other personal expenses can tack on a lot more to that sticker price depending on whether you have dependents or not, if you are living on-campus, off-campus, or with your parents.

Location

Students love living in Elko, Nevada where Great Basin College is located because the climate is pleasant, people are friendly, and there is a plethora of things to do and see in this small town. For example, residents of Elko are surrounded by desert landscaping and sweeping mountain views. There are plenty of outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, and hiking that people can take part in when they are not busy at school or studying.

Elko is also known to be a relatively safe place to live with low crime rates, good schools, and a short four-hour drive into a major city in three directions. Compared to other places in the world, it isn’t the most affordable place to live, nor does it boast the greatest job diversity. But in the grand scheme of things, it can be a great place for students to settle down for a while as they earn their college degrees.

Housing

When it comes to on-campus housing at Great Basin College, students have the option of either living in a dorm or sharing an apartment with others. Here’s a quick glance at each:

Griswold Hall Dorms

First and second-year students are encouraged to experience the dorm life as it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience in college! Griswold Hall Dorms have single and double occupancy dorms for students at an affordable price. Of course, the single occupancy ones are a bit more but may be well worth it for someone who doesn’t want to share a room with someone else or potentially deal with “roommate drama” down the line. Regardless of which room you choose, you’ll be able to enjoy amenities like utilities and internet, TV and study rooms, a community kitchen, gathering areas, laundromat, free parking, a computer lab, and a game room.

Double occupancy at Griswold Hall Dorms is currently going for $1,350 per semester, while a guaranteed private room is $2,016 per semester. Summer school students have the option of staying for $112 per week. To secure a room, you must pay a deposit of $250 and $50 that’s non-refundable.

Single-Student Apartments

Most college juniors and seniors opt for apartment living. Great Basin College’s single-student apartments are furnished with two and three-bedroom units featuring a common living and dining room, a fully equipped kitchen/cooking range, oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, and bathroom. While students share one apartment, they each have their own private bedrooms. If you already have roommates in mind, you can request to live with them, or the college can assign roommate(s) based on the information you provide on the student housing application. Similar to the hall dorms, apartments have utilities and internet service.

Single student apartments are currently going for $2,016 per semester. If you are taking summer classes, you can stay for $112 per week. To secure a room, you have to pay a deposit of $350 and $50 that’s non-refundable.

Family Apartments

Great Basin College is very accommodating to students with families. There are two or three-bedroom unfurnished apartments for married couples or families which feature a living and dining room, laundry hookups, a fully equipped kitchen/cooking range, oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, and bathroom. There are lawn/playground areas for kids to play in. Garbage and water are included.

Academic Programs

Those enrolled in Great Basin College set themselves up for getting good jobs in the competitive market, gaining valuable skills and credentials, meeting new people, and more. Students can choose to major in:

  • Business & business administration
  • Computer technologies
  • Education
  • Health sciences
  • Human & social services
  • Social sciences
  • Arts & science
  • Technology/industry (career/technical education – CTE)

If you aren’t sure what you want to major in but would still like to further your education, you can always pursue an Associate of General Studies, or an Associate’s degree for transfer in the future. Additionally, Certificates of Achievement and Skills Certificates are available options for those who don’t have two or four years to commit to school, but want to brush up on basic job skills for employability. Whatever your life and career goals, you’ll find a place at Great Basin College.

Scholarships

There are numerous scholarships and financial aid opportunities for future Great Basin College students to take advantage of. The awards may vary, and the need-based scholarships are given only to those who demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) process. Most scholarships are given out in two equal payments upon fall and spring semester enrollment.

To qualify for aid without running into issues later on, students have the obligation to meet the required standards to keep eligibility. These standards may vary from one scholarship to another, but generally students are expected to keep a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and be enrolled in at least 6 credits per semester.

For scholarship consideration, applicants must fill out the application form from the Office of Student Financial Services in Berg Hall. Additionally, they must obtain an official transcript and provide a brief statement about their academic, career, and personal goals.

Demographics

A majority of students at Great Basin College are of white ethnicity. Most of the student body is female. That being said, if you are looking to go to a college where the disparity between men and women on campus is minimal and the ethnic diversity is great, Great Basin College may not be the best choice for you.

The good news for some is that Great Basin College tends to represent students locally. This means that if you want to study with other students from within Nevada, Great Basin College could be promising. Over 90% of its attendees are from Nevada.

Traditionally, colleges mostly have students aged 18-21. However, Great Basin College also attracts older students. Compared to the national average of 60%, only 25% of Great Basin College’s students are in the age 18-21 bracket.

Sports

At the moment, Great Basin College does not appear to be big on the sports scene like some other colleges and universities. However, there are plenty of outdoor and recreational activities that residents of Elko, Nevada can participate in to stay active.