University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Gaining admission to the University of Nevada--Las Vegas is very accessible, as the vast majority of applicants receive an offer of admission. In the 2025 admissions cycle, the school recorded an overall acceptance rate of 96.2%, which is higher than 80% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 similarly ranked public research universities. This open admissions approach means that almost all qualified candidates can expect to secure a spot. At the same time, the university exercises a substantial draw once students are admitted. Its yield rate reached 36.2%, which is higher than 97% of peer schools, demonstrating that a notable portion of admitted students choose to enroll rather than taking offers elsewhere. Meanwhile, the university has steadily climbed in national standings, advancing from rank 285 in 2023 to rank 236 in the 2027 US News ranking list. For families planning college applications, UNLV represents an accessible institution where admission barriers are minimal and regional demand among admitted students remains comparatively firm.

The University of Nevada--Las Vegas operates under an admissions test policy where scores are optional, considered if submitted. Standardized testing standards at the university are relatively accessible compared to national benchmarks. For 2025, the university reported a median SAT score of 1120, which is higher than 42 percent of peer schools in a comparison group of similarly ranked public national universities. For the 2025 entering class, the middle range of enrolled ACT composite scores spanned from 18 to 25, while section scores in English and math fell across comparable intervals. Incoming students rely far more heavily on the ACT, with 65 percent submitting ACT results in 2025 compared to only a small single-digit percentage submitting the SAT. For applicants planning their credentials, achieving an ACT composite score near the upper mark of 25, or an SAT score matching or exceeding the 1120 median, reflects the level of academic preparation typical among successful applicants.

Undergraduate degree conferrals at the University of Nevada--Las Vegas are relatively dispersed, with the top three bachelor programs accounting for 23.3% of all undergraduate degrees in 2025. The most popular bachelor major was general psychology with 505 graduates, followed by hospitality administration and criminal justice. Although general psychology produces the largest cohort, the school's highest national rankings reside in specialized graduate divisions rather than undergraduate arts and sciences. In the 2026 US News graduate rankings, the law school earned a rank of 1 in legal writing and a rank of 8 in dispute resolution, while nuclear engineering ranked 28th. International undergraduates are concentrated heavily in hospitality administration, where international students made up 15.6% of program graduates. Post-graduation compensation demonstrates strong returns in technical and healthcare areas; according to 2023 earnings figures, registered nursing graduates achieved the highest median earnings one year after graduation at $85,882, followed closely by various engineering disciplines.

The student body at the University of Nevada--Las Vegas is large and racially diverse, with total enrollment reaching 32,911 students in 2025. Hispanic and White students form the largest undergraduate demographic groups, followed by a substantial Asian student representation across all divisions. Among incoming freshmen, Asian students numbered 738, representing 16.7% of the entering class, with similar shares seen among continuing undergraduates. International students comprise a very small segment of the undergraduate cohort, accounting for just over one percent of freshmen. In contrast, international representation is considerably more visible at the post-baccalaureate level, where 559 international graduate students enrolled in 2025, accounting for close to one-tenth of the graduate population. Across all academic classifications, women constitute the majority of the student body, consistently accounting for over half of all enrolled students.

The age profile at the University of Nevada--Las Vegas demonstrates a traditional undergraduate population operating alongside a mature graduate community. Undergraduates are predominantly young adults completing their degrees in early adulthood. In 2025, the largest undergraduate segment was students aged 20 to 21 at 27.9%, followed by those aged 18 to 19 at 25.1%. With an additional substantial contingent aged 22 to 24, undergraduate life centers heavily around early college-age peer groups. By contrast, the graduate division draws primarily from early-career and working professionals. Students aged 25 to 29 represented the largest graduate cohort at 33.1%, with another third distributed between those in their early twenties and early thirties. This division means that campus social life and undergraduate activities revolve around traditional college-age peers, while advanced degree cohorts bring professional workplace experience to graduate seminars.

International student trends at the University of Nevada--Las Vegas have moved in opposite directions across academic levels. The undergraduate international presence has contracted over the past decade, dropping to an enrollment share of 1.6% in 2025. This proportion is higher than 30% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 public universities, reflecting modest international participation at the baccalaureate level. Conversely, the graduate international footprint has expanded significantly over the same timeframe, reaching 9.7% of all graduate students in 2025. When looking at degrees awarded, international students accounted for only a tiny slice of total bachelor degrees, but they are concentrated heavily in specific fields. Most notably, hospitality administration and management remains a prime destination, where international students made up 15.6% of graduating seniors. At the advanced level, international graduates represent a greater share of master's and doctoral recipients, particularly in specialized doctoral programs such as music and dentistry.

Applicants exploring higher education options around the region can consider several institutions located within driving distance of Las Vegas. In Southern California, University of California-Riverside sits 192.5 kilometers away and ranks 80th among National Universities in the 2027 rankings. Nearby in Los Angeles County, University of La Verne is located 203.4 kilometers away and holds rank 208 among National Universities. Heading southeast into Arizona, Northern Arizona University is situated 205.6 kilometers away, carrying rank 276 on the National Universities list. These institutions provide regional alternatives ranging from large public research campuses to smaller private universities.

Campus safety records at the University of Nevada--Las Vegas show that reported incidents primarily involve property crimes and substance violations rather than violent offenses. In 2025, the university registered a crime rate per 1,000 students of 6.6, reflecting a slight rise over the past decade. Over the three-year period from 2023 through 2025, theft stood as the most frequently recorded offense, totaling 146 incidents across campus. Substance regulation also accounted for a substantial share of reported law enforcement activity during those years, resulting in 119 drug arrests along with dozens of campus disciplinary referrals for drugs and alcohol. In addition, vehicle security presented an ongoing issue, with 72 motor vehicle thefts logged over the same three-year window. For incoming students and families assessing security conditions, these figures highlight that everyday campus safety considerations revolve predominantly around safeguarding personal property, securing vehicles, and complying with campus substance policies.