University of Nevada-Reno

In the 2027 US News Best Colleges rankings, the University of Nevada-Reno placed 219th among national universities, having moved from 201st in 2019. Gaining admission is relatively accessible compared to selective institutions nationwide, though it remains somewhat more selective than its immediate public peers. For the class entering in 2025, the university posted an overall undergraduate admit rate of 73.7%. When evaluated against 30 public comprehensive universities with similar rankings, this acceptance rate was higher than only 20% of peer institutions, showing that Nevada-Reno turns away more applicants than typical schools in its cohort. Once admitted, students choose to enroll at a comparatively solid rate. The university recorded a yield rate of 26.5% in 2025. While just over a quarter of admitted applicants actually matriculated, this enrollment pull was higher than 80% of peer schools in its comparison group. For prospective applicants, these figures mean admission is attainable for qualified students, while the institution secures a firmer commitment from admitted candidates than many similar public universities.

Undergraduate admissions at the University of Nevada-Reno are test-optional, meaning test scores are considered if submitted by the applicant. For the 2025 entering class, the middle 50% of admitted students earned an ACT composite score between 19 and 26, alongside comparable mid-range SAT section scores in reading and mathematics. Among applicants who provided standardized testing, the ACT served as the predominant examination, submitted by a clear majority of enrolled students in 2025, while only a small minority sent SAT results. In peer comparisons across 30 similarly ranked public universities in 2025, the university's median SAT score of 1180 stood higher than 67% of peer schools. Prospective students evaluating their academic preparation can use these benchmarks to gauge their competitive standing, noting that achieving test results within this middle tier aligns well with typical academic profiles across the undergraduate body.

Degree conferrals at the University of Nevada-Reno show a broad academic footprint rather than high concentration. In 2025, the top three undergraduate programs accounted for just 17.7% of all bachelor degrees awarded. The largest undergraduate majors by graduate volume were Public Health, Registered Nursing, and General Business. However, the university's largest undergraduate fields do not directly coincide with its highest-ranked areas, which are concentrated at the graduate level. According to US News rankings for 2026, the medical school achieved prominent standing, placing 2nd for primary care and 3rd for research, alongside a 21st-place ranking in Physician Assistant studies in 2025 and 61st for Civil Engineering in 2026. Labor market returns strongly favor clinical and technical graduates. Based on 2023 earnings data one year after graduation, students completing bachelor degrees in nursing led all disciplines with median earnings of $90,108, while graduates in electrical and civil engineering also secured high early salaries. For incoming applicants, healthcare and engineering represent clear educational and economic strengths.

The student body at the University of Nevada-Reno is composed predominantly of domestic undergraduates, with White and Hispanic students forming the largest demographic groups. Asian and international students maintain meaningful presences that differ by academic level. Asian students accounted for 294 first-year undergraduates, representing 8.5% of the incoming cohort, with similar proportions across continuing undergraduate and graduate levels. Meanwhile, international students have a very small footprint in undergraduate classrooms, making up under one percent of freshmen. At the advanced level, however, global enrollment is much more pronounced: 543 international students comprise 13.9% of the graduate population. For prospective students, these figures illustrate an undergraduate environment rooted in regional and domestic enrollment, contrasted with an advanced degree division that attracts a sizeable international research contingent.

The age distribution at the University of Nevada-Reno highlights a distinct separation between undergraduate and graduate student life. In 2025, undergraduate education centered heavily on traditional college-age youth. Students aged 18 to 19 made up 32.3% of the undergraduate body, while those aged 20 to 21 accounted for 29.0%, followed by dual-enrollment or young students under 18. This concentration creates a traditional campus atmosphere centered on early adulthood and daytime academic activities. By contrast, the graduate division serves an older, post-undergraduate population. Students aged 25 to 29 formed the largest graduate segment at 32.4%, alongside those aged 22 to 24 and working professionals in their thirties. These demographics indicate that while undergraduate campus culture is anchored by young residential learners, graduate study revolves around early-career professionals balancing advanced coursework and research.

At the undergraduate level, global representation has declined over the past decade, with international students accounting for just 1% of all undergraduates in 2025. When measured against peer institutions among similar public comprehensive universities, this undergraduate share sits below the peer average. Conversely, the graduate division has seen steady international growth, where the overseas student share reached 13.9% in 2025. Degree completion data from 2025 highlights this separation across academic tiers. International students earned only a fraction of bachelor credentials, but received 10.4% of master degrees and 24.9% of doctorates. At the advanced level, international scholars concentrate primarily in engineering and technical disciplines such as graduate Computer Science, whereas undergraduate enrollments remain largely domestic. For prospective international students, these trends indicate that the university's research and master programs offer a far more established global community than its undergraduate colleges.

Applicants considering the University of Nevada-Reno may also explore several notable universities located within driving distance in northern and central California. University of California-Davis sits 125 kilometers away and ranked 34th among national universities in the 2027 US News rankings. A bit further south, University of the Pacific in Stockton is 135 kilometers away with a 2027 national rank of 121. Continuing into the Central Valley, University of California-Merced is situated 154 kilometers from Reno and achieved a 2027 national rank of 69. Toward the coast, University of California-Berkeley is located 175 kilometers away and ranked 20th nationally. These regional options provide a spectrum of public research institutions and private universities across varying tiers of selectivity.

Campus safety conditions at the University of Nevada-Reno have shown measurable improvement in recent years. Forward Pathway's crime rate per 1,000 students dropped from 13.2 in 2016 to 7.5 in 2025, reflecting a steady decline in weighted incident volume over the decade. Across the three-year period from 2023 through 2025, campus safety reports were dominated by non-violent alcohol disciplinary referrals and property offenses. Disciplinary referrals for alcohol policy violations formed the single largest category, totaling 411 incidents over those three years. Vehicle security also represents a notable concern on campus, with motor vehicle thefts accounting for 136 incidents across the same timeframe. Other recorded offenses included smaller totals of burglary, drug disciplinary referrals, and drug-related arrests. Overall, these statistics indicate that while administrative alcohol violations and vehicle theft require student vigilance, broader safety trends on campus have been moving in a positive direction.