University of Nevada-Reno

Public · Moderately Selective · NV

Photo: NevadaMarCom (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationNV · West

SettingUrban

Undergrads15,599

Student:faculty17:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate41.9%

6-yr grad rate61.2%

Drop-out rate20.3%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$10k

Out-of-state tuition$28k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity50%

Gender diversity54.1%

International1.1%

Identity—

Overview

The University of Nevada, Reno is the state's original land-grant university, tracing back to a small school later relocated to Reno's high desert, less than an hour from Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada. It combines flagship research credentials with an outdoor-oriented culture shaped by its mountain surroundings, and its historic quad of early campus buildings gives the older core of the university a traditional look that contrasts with Reno's modern casino-and-tech skyline just downhill.

Academics

Engineering, through the historically mining-focused Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, and seismology and earthquake research are notable strengths, the latter benefiting from Nevada's genuinely active geology and supported by a dedicated seismological laboratory that monitors the region's faults. Journalism, through the Reynolds School of Journalism, is another long-standing point of distinction, with a reputation that extends well beyond the state. The university's research profile is more substantial than its size might suggest, particularly in the earth sciences, where its location gives researchers direct access to active faults and mining geology that few other universities can study on their own doorstep.

Campus & student life

Reno's high-desert setting and closeness to Tahoe give students easy access to skiing, hiking, and other outdoor recreation, and that lifestyle is woven into campus culture as much as any organized program. It's a moderately sized flagship with a growing but still relatively compact residential core, and Wolf Pack athletics, particularly basketball, draw solid regional attention within the Mountain West Conference. Reno itself, smaller and less overwhelming than Las Vegas, gives students a genuine city nearby without the scale of a major metro.

Getting in

Admissions is generally accessible for a state flagship, with the university drawing a strong share of in-state Nevada students alongside a growing out-of-state and international population. Merit scholarships tied to GPA and test scores are a significant part of the financial picture for many admitted students, and the honors program offers an additional, more selective track for students who want smaller classes.

After graduation

Graduates go into regional engineering, science, and media careers, with the seismology and earth-science programs in particular feeding into government and research positions tied to geological monitoring and hazard science. Journalism graduates have a solid track record in regional media markets across the West. The alumni network is concentrated in Nevada and the broader Mountain West rather than spread nationally.

Worth knowing

Reno's identity as a smaller, more manageable alternative to Las Vegas is a real draw for students who want city amenities without Vegas-scale distraction. The mountain and outdoor-recreation culture is not incidental here; students who don't ski or hike may find themselves less connected to a meaningful slice of campus social life.

unr.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate73.7%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1060–1290 · ACT 19–26

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying