Reports and Resources (2024)

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public research institution committed to rigorous educational programs and promoting well-being and achievement through education, research, scholarship, and creative activity.

Since its first classes were held in 1957, UNLV has transformed from a small branch campus into a thriving university. Along the way, UNLV has become an indispensable resource in one of the country’s fastest-growing and most enterprising cities. UNLV has more than 30,000 students, 3,500 faculty and staff, and offers more than 290 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs and 100 certificate programs. This includes a new School of Medicine and internationally and nationally recognized programs in hotel administration, engineering, business, creative writing, conflict resolution, legal writing, public health, and nursing.

UNLV graduates are dedicated to meeting the challenges brought on by rapid urban growth, economic and cultural diversity, and sustainability, and overwhelmingly choose to remain in Southern Nevada. Two-thirds of UNLV’s 120,000 alumni reside here, including more than 5,000 K-12 teachers; 9,000 hotel and tourism professionals; and thousands of health care professionals, business owners, and managers. Eighty percent of Boyd School of Law graduates remain in state. UNLV’s School of Dental Medicine students provide millions of dollars in free dental services to those in need.

The university strives to create an environment conducive to academic success – from the day students arrive for orientation, during their time on campus and into their chosen careers. This includes a growing Honors College, an innovative curriculum with a defined course path for undergraduates, and access to academic and career advising – including a dedicated Academic Success Center. An array of research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students strengthen the academic experience and allow students to tackle pressing real-world issues alongside top faculty.

Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, UNLV is among the nation’s most diverse campuses for undergraduates, with more than half of its students from racial or ethnic minority groups. UNLV is a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving Institution, as designated by the U.S. Dept. of Education. With nearly 1,900 active-duty military and veteran students, the university is also recognized as a military friendly university with a dedicated office to help students and their families navigate the academic and administrative pathways of a college education.

UNLV recently attained R1 “very high research activity” status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. UNLV is now one of 130 institutions—out of 4,000 colleges and universities nationwide—to hold R1 status, the gold standard for university research metrics.

UNLV is continuing toward its broader Top Tier vision to become one of the nation’s premier public universities in research, education, and community impact by 2025. UNLV continues to attract top students and faculty, educate a diversifying population and workforce, and drive economic activity through innovation, research and community partnerships.

Academic Highlights
UNLV is home to:

Brookings Mountain West, a partnership between UNLV and the prestigious Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution, brings high-quality, independent, and impactful research to issues facing the dynamic and fast-growing Intermountain West.

The Lincy Institute conducts and supports research focused on improving Nevada’s health, education, and social services. This research builds capacity for service providers and enhances efforts to draw state and federal money to the greater Las Vegas. The Institute also highlights key issues that affect public policy and quality-of-life decisions on behalf of children, seniors, and families in Nevada.

The renowned Black Mountain Institute recently marked its tenth year as a literary center dedicated to promoting discourse on today's most pressing issues. Among its many programs, the institute operates the nation’s first City of Asylum program, a safe haven for writers whose voices are muffled by censorship, or who are living with the threat of imprisonment or assassination.

The Lee Business School is one of the largest schools at UNLV. Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, it is one of only 189 business schools worldwide to achieve accreditation for both its business school and accounting program, marking the highest standard of achievement for business schools.

The College of Education is committed to preparing professionals for diverse educational settings and contributing to educational and pedagogical knowledge through scholarly endeavors. The College stimulates an intellectual environment that promotes quality instruction, significant research, and professional service.

The Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering produces graduates who are well prepared to find real-world solutions to technical challenges. The undergraduate program affords students the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research and learn principles of entrepreneurism in addition to the theory taught in the classroom. Faculty and students conduct research in areas such as renewable energy, transportation, nanotechnology and structures.

The College of Fine Arts is one of the most rapidly growing and largest fine arts programs in the country. Students are trained by some of the best professionals in the field of entertainment. Faculty and alumni of the fine arts program have won national acclaim, receiving Emmy, Grammy, and Showtime awards.

The Division of Health Sciences is comprised of the schools of Dental Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, and Allied Health. Guided by a mission that demands UNLV serve its community, the division is using research, education, training and service to form unique public and private partnerships. These partnerships help provide quality healthcare to the underserved, educate future professionals, and explore ways to improve the health and well being of our citizens.

The Honors College is a selective undergraduate college that offers a unique liberal arts and sciences experience for high-achieving and highly motivated students. Coupled with the extensive research and cultural opportunities of a large urban university, the Honors College offers an exceptional value in higher education. The College is an educational partner with the “discipline” colleges of the University in which Honors students pursue their academic majors. The combination of a central Honors intellectual core and specialized learning in a major discipline helps develop graduates who are fully prepared to succeed in graduate and professional schools and in rewarding careers.

The William F. Harrah College of Hospitality is a global leader in hospitality research and education, immersing its students in the art, science, and business of this dynamic industry. UNLV, with its location in Las Vegas, offers students world-class opportunities to acquire professional experience along with a highly ranked academic degree. The college consistently ranks as one of world’s best, according to QS World University Rankings.

The William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV is a vibrant community of students and scholars who are developing conscientious, skilled, engaged lawyers who can tackle the multifaceted issues that confront cities throughout he Intermountain West and the rest of the country. The nation’s top-ranked legal writing program, its nationally ranked clinical program, the Thomas and Mack Legal Clinic, and the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution, along with an outstanding faculty and a culture of student involvement and support are key opportunities available to students.

The College of Liberal Arts, the largest academic college at UNLV, offers a rich variety of majors and interdisciplinary programs in the liberal arts. Students develop an array of intellectual skills and a diverse understanding of broad and varied issues.

The UNLV School of Medicine welcomed its charter class in summer 2017. The medical school's mission is to improve ccess to high-quality health care in Southern Nevada by increasing the number of physicians and trained specialists who are committed to serving the region. The accompanying academic health center serves as core infrastructure for the entire local medical community and generate top-quality research spanning basic and clinical sciences.

The College of Sciences develops students and nurtures faculty who generate knowledge at the forefront of science. The discovery and understanding of the physical world, including biological systems, the investigation of alternative energy resources and fundamental questions concerning the origin and evolution of the earth and the universe are key subject areas in the college’s curriculum.

The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs emphasizes improvement of the quality of urban life through preparing students for professional practice in each of its disciplines. College faculty, students, and staff make a difference in the world by developing effective and original solutions for 21st century urban challenges. Students are developing unique solutions together with outstanding faculty and many local leaders.