University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV4505 S Maryland Pky, Las Vegas, NV 89154
702-895-3011
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public research university in the Las Vegas metropolitan area of the U.S. state of Nevada. The university is a comprehensive doctoral–degree-granting institution, classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a research university with high research activity. It is the largest public university in the state of Nevada and the largest of the eight institutions that comprise the Nevada System of Higher Education.
UNLV's more than 330 degree programs are divided among the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, College of Sciences, College of Fine Arts, William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, College of Liberal Arts, College of Education, and the School of Dental Medicine. The university is home to the Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies, the Black Mountain Institute, the Center for Gaming Research, and the Center for Business and Economic Research. Its medical school is jointly operated with the University of Nevada, Reno in the city of Reno.
In 2019, UNLV was ranked the 41st-best national university in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. In 2015, UNLV was ranked as the 5th most diverse university in the country by USA Today. The campus is located about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) east of the Las Vegas Strip on Maryland Parkway. The university includes the Shadow Lane Campus, just east of the main campus, which houses the William S. Boyd School of Law and the School of Dental Medicine.
UNLV was founded on March 13, 1957, by the Nevada Board of Regents, as the Southern Division of the University of Nevada. It initially had two campuses: one located on Maryland Parkway just south of Paradise Road, and the other at the former site of the Las Vegas Army Air Base about 15 miles (24 km) east of the Strip. The school officially opened its doors on September 8, 1957.
In 1971, the Board of Regents approved a name change for the Southern Division to the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and the name change became effective on September 1, 1972. The university purchased the campus of the former Las Vegas Army Air Base in 1972. The campus, which sits on about 1,200 acres (490 ha), was renamed the "Shadow Lane Campus" after the original main campus was given its current name in 1973.
The university's first president was Don Baepler, who served from 1957 to 1966. The university's second president was James L. Rogers, who served from 1967 to 1970. The current president of UNLV is Marta Meana.
The university offers more than 330 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The most popular undergraduate majors are business, management, marketing, and related support services; social sciences; and biological and biomedical sciences. The most popular graduate programs are in business, education, and engineering.
UNLV is classified as a research university with high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The university is home to the Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies, the Black Mountain Institute, the Center for Gaming Research, and the Center for Business and Economic Research.
UNLV is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration. The School of Dental Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
UNLV is a member of the Association of American Universities, the Mountain West Conference, and the Oak Ridge Associated Universities.
The university's sports teams, the Rebels, compete in the NCAA Division I Mountain West Conference. The football team has been to the Bowl Championship Series four times, most recently in 2014. The men's basketball team has been to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament eight times, most recently in 2019. The women's basketball team has been to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament seven times, most recently in 2018.
Quick Facts
Enrollment: 31142
Acceptance Rate: 81.02%
Type: Public, 4-year or above
Main Website: https://www.unlv.edu/
Financial Aid: https://finaid.unlv.edu/
Annual Costs
Total Cost In-State On-Campus: $24997
Total Cost Out-State On-Campus: $40648
Return on Investment Rating
The estimated cost for four years as an undergraduate at University of Nevada-Las Vegas is $102922.83. This includes the average cost of attendance for four years plus the interest on the average loan over a ten year repayment minus the average of grants and scholarships per student.
We then contrast this figure with average early-career and mid-career average incomes of graduates of four year programs at University of Nevada-Las Vegas. For graduates of University of Nevada-Las Vegas, we saw an average early-career income of $53900.00 and mid-career income of $95300.00. We then ranked the school's value based on how many years of mid-career income it takes to repay the educational costs.