Formerly, hopes for a college in Elko were fading in the spring of 1968 until a $250,000 donation was received from reclusive Las Vegas billionaire Howard Hughes.

The gift was announced by Nevada Governor Paul Laxalt, who was heading the list of dignitaries, at an emotionally charged assembly of supporters at the Commercial Hotel.

[2] It also offers dual-credit enrollment programs for high school students in its areas of outreach in the cities of Elko, Ely, Winnemucca, and the town of Pahrump.

[3] The service area includes the counties of Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, and White Pine.

Great Basin College covers 86,500 square miles, two time zones, and ten of Nevada's largest counties.