University of Nevada-Reno — College Profile

About

The University of Nevada, Reno is an R1 research institution widely recognized for its high-impact programs in engineering—notably housing world-class earthquake simulation laboratories—as well as mining, earth sciences, and the esteemed Reynolds School of Journalism. Situated in the Sierra Nevada foothills just 45 minutes from Lake Tahoe, the historic, tree-lined campus offers students a unique blend of four-season outdoor recreation and valuable professional pipelines into Northern Nevada's expanding technology and logistics sectors. Campus life is vibrant and close-knit, anchored by spirited NCAA Division I Mountain West athletics, active student traditions, and a strong sense of community pride.

Wikipedia:The University of Nevada, Reno is a public land-grant research university in Reno, Nevada, United States. It is the state's flagship public university and primary land grant institution. It was founded on October 12, 1874, in Elko, Nevada.

Location

Reno, NV, 89557 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

SMF · Sacramento

112 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$9,578$27,720

Housing & food (on campus)$14,496$14,496

Books & supplies$1,200$1,200

Cost of attendance$25,786$43,928 est.

Average net price$15,927Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$27,720

In-state: $9,578

Housing & food (on campus)$14,496

Books & supplies$1,200

Cost of attendance$43,928 est.

In-state: $25,786

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $15,927

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$12,674

$30–48k

$13,125

$48–75k

$14,537

$75–110k

$18,317

$110k+

$21,646

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$1,804

First-years who got one755

Source: University of Nevada-Reno's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

62%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

42%

Back for yr 2

80%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

64% graduated · 13% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 22% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$49,182

10 yrs after entry$60,614

Debt

Median at graduation$18,922

Monthly payment$201

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$23k

90th percentile$31,000

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

74%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1132

R 540–650 · M 520–640

ACT midpoint

Comp 19–26 · E 18–26 · M 17–25

SAT middle 50%: 1060–1290

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

How much essays count at University of Nevada-Reno: Not considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: University of Nevada-Reno's Common Data Set for 2024-25 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If University of Nevada-Reno asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 46%Women 54%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

17 : 1

Pell grant

23%

First-gen

38%

Family income

$48,103

Independent

17%

Veterans

Age at entry

21.0

Part-time

12%

Race & ethnicity

White

50%

Hispanic

25%

Black

Asian

Two or more

10%

Non-resident

AI/AN

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Cross Country
Men's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Skiing
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming and Diving (combined)
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$49,182

After 10 yrs

$60,614

Public Health310

Business/Commerce, General186

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing180

Marketing179

Psychology, General177

Biology, General174

Criminal Justice and Corrections146

Computer Science133

Finance and Financial Management Services132

Computer and Information Sciences, General99

Mechanical Engineering95

Civil Engineering88

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services87

Journalism85

Social Work84

Neurobiology and Neurosciences82

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$560M

Full-time faculty

98%

Faculty salary

$13,293/mo

Teaching spend

$14,669

per student

Federal loans

24%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R1 — very high research

$194M research spending · 186 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, selective admissions