University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, NV
73.7%
Acceptance Rate
$9,578
Avg Cost (In-State)
$27,720
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
61.8%
Graduation Rate
15,599
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
February 1
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
0
Letters of Rec
0
Application Fee
$60
Interview
Not required
Essays: No essay required for admission; optional personal statement may be submitted
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$49,182
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$60,614
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
62%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | $37,198 | $63,049 | 292 |
| Psychology, General. | $30,858 | $51,553 | 210 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $85,733 | $97,949 | 181 |
| Marketing. | $44,661 | $67,914 | 173 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | $61,977 | $88,460 | 168 |
| Criminology. | $39,804 | $66,273 | 160 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | $45,630 | $68,419 | 153 |
| Biology, General. | $35,617 | $59,715 | 138 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗Nevada Millennium Scholarship
~$10k valueNV pays $40-$80/credit toward in-state university tuition for NV residents with 3.25+ GPA who attend a NV college.
Who it helps: NV residents attending NV public universities.
How to use: Apply at nshe.nevada.edu/millennium. School verifies GPA + residency. Award shows on financial-aid award letter.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Nevada Promise Scholarship
Tuition + fees at NV community colleges (last-dollar)
stateNV HS grads enrolling in NV community college immediately; mentor + 20 hours community service.
Deadline: October 31 senior year
Learn more ↗U Nevada Reno Presidential Scholarship
Full tuition (~$8,000/year)
universityTop UNR freshmen with 32+ ACT/1430+ SAT + 3.9 GPA. Automatic.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Las Vegas Promise (CSN)
Tuition + fees + book stipend at CSN
localClark County HS grads attending College of Southern Nevada.
Deadline: Through CSN
Learn more ↗Silver State Opportunity Grant
Up to $5,500/year
stateNV residents with significant financial need at NV public colleges (CC focus).
Deadline: FAFSA + school
Learn more ↗Nevada Chafee Education and Training Voucher
Up to $5,000/year
stateNV current/former foster youth ages 14-23; NV DCFS Independent Living.
Deadline: Rolling
Learn more ↗Reno-Sparks Promise (TMCC + UNR)
Tuition + fees at TMCC + UNR transfer support
localWashoe County HS grads attending Truckee Meadows CC or UNR.
Deadline: Through institution
Learn more ↗Nevada Millennium Educator Pathway
Up to $5,000/yr
stateNV HS seniors pursuing teaching at NV colleges with critical-shortage commitment.
Deadline: Spring
Learn more ↗Nevada Society of CPAs Educational Foundation Scholarship
$1,500-$3,000
stateNevada accounting students at NV institutions.
Deadline: April
Learn more ↗Federal Work-Study
Varies (hourly wages, typically $10–$20/hr)
federalStudents with financial need who want to earn money through part-time employment while enrolled.
Deadline: Varies by school (apply via FAFSA)
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 73.7% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
73.71%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
33.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
34.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
81.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
33.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
47.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
81.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
62.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA
73.3% acceptance
Both admit around 73% of applicants, with 31k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT
73.3% acceptance
Both admit around 73% of applicants, with 8k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
74.2% acceptance
Both admit around 74% of applicants, with 20k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT
67.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (68% vs 74%) but out-of-state cost runs $7k — meaningfully less than $28k.
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ
78.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (79% vs 74%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $28k.
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA
75.2% acceptance
Similar selectivity (75% vs 74%) but out-of-state cost runs $20k — meaningfully less than $28k.
Reaches above this college
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR
56.5% acceptance
Same s setting in the region, but more selective (57% vs 74%) — a stretch target if University of Nevada-Reno is already on your list.
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
33% acceptance
Same s setting in the West, but more selective (33% vs 74%) — a stretch target if University of Nevada-Reno is already on your list.
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA
28.6% acceptance
Same s setting in the West, but more selective (29% vs 74%) — a stretch target if University of Nevada-Reno is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
California Baptist University
Riverside, CA
84.9% acceptance
Same s setting in the West, but higher admit rate (85% vs 74%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
88% acceptance
Same s setting in the West, but higher admit rate (88% vs 74%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ
89.9% acceptance
Same s setting in the West, but higher admit rate (90% vs 74%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
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