Nevada State College (NSC) is a four-year public college located in Henderson, Nevada and is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). The college opened on September 3, 2002 and is located on a 509 acres (206 ha) site in the southern foothills of Henderson, Nevada. The site of the college raised environmental concerns as it was located next to a toxic waste dump. In the past, some of Nevada State College's programs suffered from lower than expected enrollments. The university has recently laid off an undisclosed number of staff as a cost saving measure. However, enrollment for 2010 increased by 23.3% compared to the year before. As of 2008, the university's six-year graduation rate is 16%. This graduation rate is less than one-third the national graduation level of 57%. Since 2004, 861 students have graduated, 437 of them earning nursing degrees. Approximately 45% of Nevada State College's students are first-generation college students. An equivalent percentage are members of racial or ethnic minorities. Due to state budget cuts, there have been proposals to close down Nevada State College.