More selective than 100% of Nevada colleges we cover.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $25,786. College Scorecard.
Higher than 100% of Nevada colleges we cover and 64% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median 54%.
Within 6 years · College Scorecard
Higher than 86% of Nevada colleges we cover and 71% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median $53,263.
Median, 10 years after starting · College Scorecard
University of Nevada-Reno acceptance rate & admissions
Of 10,142 applicants, University of Nevada-Reno admitted 8,652 and 3,421 enrolled (IPEDS, Fall 2023 entering class). The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 1060–1290 on the SAT or 19–26 on the ACT.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Test scores: College Scorecard, Fall 2024. Other figures: College Scorecard; IPEDS
University of Nevada-Reno tuition, cost & net price
What families actually pay per year, by income
Average net price after grants and scholarships for Nevada residents who receive federal aid. Tap your income band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year (in-state, federal aid recipients)
Sticker price (before aid)
IPEDS 2023-24 cost items; total from College Scorecard
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
What University of Nevada-Reno costs to finish, and how fast it pays back
Graduates of University of Nevada-Reno took 4.4 years on average to finish, so the yearly price adds up to the total below. Payback compares former students' earnings with what high school graduates earn in Nevada. The figures follow your residency and income choices above.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,674 | $55,512 | 2.3 years |
| $30–48k | $13,125 | $57,488 | 2.4 years |
| $48–75k | $14,537 | $63,672 | 2.6 years |
| $75–110k | $18,317 | $80,228 | 3.3 years |
| $110k+ | $21,646 | $94,809 | 3.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (42% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of former students 10 years after starting ($60,614) minus $36,549 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NV (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $24,065 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard (net price, earnings); IPEDS Graduation Rates (time to finish); U.S. Census Bureau ACS (high school earnings). Calculated by EducationGuide.
University of Nevada-Reno majors, earnings & careers
University of Nevada-Reno offers 72 bachelor's majors across 10 areas. Earnings below are for this school's graduates of each major, four years after finishing.
- Science & Math · 17
- Engineering · 12
- Social Sciences & Public Service · 11
- Business & Finance · 8
- Health & Medicine · 6
- Humanities & Languages · 6
- Arts & Design · 5
- Education · 3
- Communications & Media · 2
- Technology & Computing · 2
Highest-earning majors at University of Nevada-Reno
| Major | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $100,203 | $21,375 |
| Nursing | $97,949 | $20,813 |
| Electrical Engineering | $96,291 | $16,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,460 | $22,750 |
| Accounting | $85,943 | $17,116 |
| Chemical Engineering | $84,965 | $22,000 |
| Environmental Engineering | $83,233 | $25,060 |
| Civil Engineering | $81,201 | $23,250 |
Quick list of all 72 majors
- Accounting$85,943
- Agriculture—
- Agriculture / Veterinary Preparatory Programs$52,481
- Anthropology$48,607
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology—
- Biochemistry$63,239
- Biology$59,715
- Biomedical Engineering—
- Biotechnology—
- Business$68,419
- Business Administration$59,014
- Business Economics$74,032
- Chemical Engineering$84,965
- Chemistry—
- Civil Engineering$81,201
- Communications$68,953
- Computer and Information Sciences$77,237
- Computer Engineering$100,203
- Computer Science—
- Criminal Justice—
- Criminology$66,273
- Dance—
- Dietetics—
- Economics—
- Education (Elementary / Secondary)$55,532
- Education (Subject Teaching)—
- Education, Other$55,892
- Electrical Engineering$96,291
- Engineering Physics—
- English$45,095
- Environmental Engineering$83,233
- Environmental Science / Conservation$55,528
- Ethnic / Gender Studies—
- Finance$72,227
- Forestry—
- Geography$74,864
- Geological / Geophysical Engineering$78,079
- Geology / Earth Science—
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design—
- Health Sciences$63,049
- History$55,230
- Human Development and Family Studies$52,084
- International Business$76,236
- International Relations$58,002
- Journalism$54,322
- Liberal Arts / General Studies$52,501
- Marketing$67,914
- Materials Engineering—
- Mathematics$70,681
- Mechanical Engineering$88,460
- Metallurgical Engineering—
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$66,355
- Mining and Mineral Engineering—
- Music—
- Neuroscience$57,769
- Nursing$97,949
- Nutrition Science$57,193
- Philosophy—
- Physics—
- Physiology—
- Plant Sciences—
- Political Science$55,483
- Psychology$51,553
- Psychology (Research)—
- Public Health—
- Social Work$60,320
- Sociology$52,564
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages$51,433
- Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders$59,896
- Studio Art$41,074
- Theatre—
- Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management$46,171
— means too few graduates to report earnings.
College Scorecard field of study, latest release
All majors by area with earnings 1 and 4 years out, and debt →Mechanical Engineering → Mechanical engineer
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 11.2% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Nursing → Registered nurse
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Living in Reno
Overall prices in the Reno, NV area.
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
2 bedrooms $1,837. Housing costs 23% above the U.S. average.
HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027
January and July average highs. 9 inches of rain a year, 33 inches of snow.
NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
Highest: wildfire (relatively high); river flooding (relatively high); winter weather (very high).
FEMA National Risk Index, Washoe County
Campus & students
IPEDS fall enrollment; Carnegie Classification; EADA via Urban Institute
Washoe County at a glance
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2024
Compare University of Nevada-Reno with similar schools
Similar public colleges in Nevada by selectivity, graduation rate and size. Tap “Why?” to see where the price difference comes from.
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nevada-Reno | 74% | $15,927 | 61% | $60,614 | This school |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 96% | $10,359 | 51% | $55,037 | |
| Truckee Meadows Community College | — | $8,312 | 32% | $44,573 | |
| Western Nevada College | — | $12,732 | 41% | $41,987 | |
| Nevada State University | 87% | $14,068 | 34% | $53,166 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
University of Nevada-Reno would cost you $5,568 more per year than University of Nevada-Las Vegas, on average.
- Higher sticker price at University of Nevada-Reno, mostly from more University of Nevada-Las Vegas students living at home, which lowers its average (+$3,410).
- University of Nevada-Reno gives aided families $580 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Nevada resident | University of Nevada-Reno | UNLV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $9,578 | $9,748 | −$170 |
| Books & supplies | $1,200 | $1,240 | −$40 |
| Housing & meals | $13,700 | $12,072 | +$1,628 |
| Personal & travel | $5,370 | $4,050 | +$1,320 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$4,062 | −$7,472 | +$3,410 |
| Sticker price | $25,786 | $19,638 | +$6,148 |
| Average grants | −$9,859 | −$9,279 | −$580 |
| You pay | $15,927 | $10,359 | +$5,568 |
“+” means University of Nevada-Reno costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
Common questions about University of Nevada-Reno
What is the University of Nevada-Reno acceptance rate?
University of Nevada-Reno accepts 74% of applicants (College Scorecard). In the latest IPEDS admissions year, 8,652 of 10,142 applicants were admitted. The middle half of enrolled first-year students scored 1060–1290 on the SAT or 19–26 on the ACT.
How much does University of Nevada-Reno cost per year?
The sticker price (cost of attendance) is $25,786 a year for in-state students. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $15,927 a year on average; families earning $0–30k pay $12,674 and families earning $110k+ pay $21,646.
How much do University of Nevada-Reno graduates earn?
Former University of Nevada-Reno students earn a median $60,614 ten years after starting college, compared with a U.S. median of $53,263 across the colleges we cover.
What is the University of Nevada-Reno graduation rate?
61% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year.
How long does a University of Nevada-Reno degree take to pay off?
For a family earning $48–75k, finishing at University of Nevada-Reno costs about $63,672 after grants ($14,537 a year for 4.4 years, the average time graduates took). Former students earn a median $60,614 ten years after starting, $24,065 more than high school graduates in Nevada ($36,549), so the cost is repaid in 2.6 years of that gain, before taxes and interest (EducationGuide calculation).
Is University of Nevada-Reno the right fit for your family?
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Sources on this page: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; U.S. Census Bureau (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections); Bureau of Economic Analysis; HUD; NOAA; FEMA; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By); Wikidata. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Averages are not quotes; confirm costs with the school. How we score
Data: download this school's data (JSON) · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “University of Nevada-Reno: cost, admissions and outcomes,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-nevada-reno (College Scorecard and IPEDS data).