University of Nevada-Reno is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Reno, Nevada. It enrolls 15,599 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
74/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes61
Value81
Affordability47
Selectivity48
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 73.7%, University of Nevada-Reno is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
73.7%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1060 – 1290
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Nevada-Reno is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
2.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Nevada-Reno isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,927 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,927
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
24%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$9,578
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$27,720
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,496
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,286
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,940
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,306
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,786
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,674
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,125
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,537
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,317
Over $110,000
$21,646
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$18,922Medianpercentile
$23,04675%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,750
↓ $5,172
No Pell $12,000
↓ $6,922
Dependent students $12,250
↓ $6,672
Independent students $16,245
↓ $2,677
Female students $13,000
↓ $5,922
Male students $12,500
↓ $6,422
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($18,922), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
62% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Nevada-Reno graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
62%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
80%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Nevada-Reno earn a median of $60,614 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$60,614
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$49,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$65,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$55,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$54,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$59,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,400, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 86% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Nevada-Reno is home to 15,599 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
15,599
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 50.0%7,801
Hispanic 24.9%3,889
Other 10.9%1,697
Asian 8.0%1,253
Black 3.4%523
International 1.1%168
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Nevada-Reno. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityReno, Nevada
Housing
Partly residential3,291 beds available
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
University of Nevada-Reno offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
173 distinct programs across
26 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Nevada-Reno is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$17,693
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$520M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$106,452
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
920 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
200
22%
$150,530
Associate Professors
250
27%
$111,585
Assistant Professors
163
18%
$96,363
Lecturers
219
24%
$74,473
No Rank
88
10%
$93,139
Pros & Cons of University of Nevada-Reno
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Nevada-Reno tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Nevada-Reno
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Nevada-Reno.
Is University of Nevada-Reno hard to get into?
Admissions at University of Nevada-Reno are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 73.7%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Nevada-Reno?
University of Nevada-Reno has an acceptance rate of 73.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of Nevada-Reno?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Nevada-Reno scored between 1060 and 1290 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Nevada-Reno?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Nevada-Reno scored between 19 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Nevada-Reno cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Nevada-Reno is $15,927 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Nevada-Reno worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $60,614 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,927 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Nevada-Reno known for?
University of Nevada-Reno is best known for its programs in Public Health, Social Work, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Nevada-Reno graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Nevada-Reno are $60,614, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Nevada-Reno accredited?
Yes. University of Nevada-Reno is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend University of Nevada-Reno?
University of Nevada-Reno enrolls 15,599 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Nevada-Reno?
University of Nevada-Reno graduates 62% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Nevada-Reno a public or private college?
University of Nevada-Reno is a Public institution.
Where is University of Nevada-Reno located?
University of Nevada-Reno is located in Reno, Nevada.
What programs does University of Nevada-Reno offer?
University of Nevada-Reno offers 173 distinct programs. The most popular include Public Health, Social Work, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Nevada-Reno?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Nevada-Reno is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Nevada
Other colleges in Nevada share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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