University of Nevada-Reno: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Omaha, Nevada · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
University of Nevada-Reno is a private nonprofit university in Omaha, Nevada that admits about 72% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $32,380 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Finance and Financial Management Services and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 83% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 9.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Nevada-Reno is a private institution located in Omaha, Nevada with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Nevada-Reno admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 72%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1296 and an ACT composite around 28. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $32,380 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Nevada-Reno is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for University of Nevada-Reno?
University of Nevada-Reno admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Nevada-Reno weight in admissions?
University of Nevada-Reno reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Class rank
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Volunteer work
- • Level of applicant's interest
- • Interview
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Work experience
SAT and ACT scores University of Nevada-Reno typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 630. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 24–30. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1250 |
| 50th percentile | 1315 |
| 75th percentile | 1410 |
| % submitting SAT | 9.77% |
| 25th percentile | 26 |
| 50th percentile | 28 |
| 75th percentile | 31 |
| % submitting ACT | 40.85% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 37.72% |
| Top 25% of class | 66.67% |
| Top 50% of class | 89.77% |
| % submitting class rank | 30.37% |
How much does University of Nevada-Reno actually cost?
Published tuition is $47,000 for in-state students and $47,000 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,790 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $32,380 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 5% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $48,700 |
| Room and board | $22,746 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $32,380 |
| Application fee | $0 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Nevada-Reno
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from University of Nevada-Reno?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Most popular majors at University of Nevada-Reno
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Nevada-Reno, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Finance and Financial Management Services and Biology, General. Across all programs, University of Nevada-Reno confers roughly 924 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $81,280 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 342 | $81,280 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 143 | $93,767 |
| Biology, General | 95 | $66,620 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 86 | — |
| Marketing | 75 | $78,423 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 74 | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 61 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 48 | $94,656 |
Is University of Nevada-Reno safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Nevada-Reno disclosed 39 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 9.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 7 violent offenses and 14 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.
What is campus life like at University of Nevada-Reno?
About 51% of undergraduates at University of Nevada-Reno live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 24% of men join a fraternity and 34% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Nevada parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Nevada-Reno
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Nevada-Reno recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Nevada-Reno
What GPA do I need for University of Nevada-Reno?
University of Nevada-Reno admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Nevada-Reno typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 630. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 24–30.
How much does University of Nevada-Reno actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Nevada-Reno after grants and scholarships is $32,380 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Nevada-Reno realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Nevada-Reno is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Nevada-Reno?
University of Nevada-Reno accepts about 72% of applicants out of roughly 7,907 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is University of Nevada-Reno test-optional?
Yes. University of Nevada-Reno is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at University of Nevada-Reno?
About 83% of students at University of Nevada-Reno graduate within six years, and 74% finish in four years. 94% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Nevada-Reno look for in applicants?
University of Nevada-Reno rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Nevada-Reno a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Nevada-Reno is a private nonprofit institution located in Omaha, Nevada.
What are the most popular majors at University of Nevada-Reno?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Nevada-Reno by annual graduates are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Finance and Financial Management Services and Biology, General. The school awards about 924 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Nevada-Reno safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Nevada-Reno reported 39 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 9.0 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of Nevada-Reno?
At University of Nevada-Reno, 51% of undergraduates live on campus, 24% of men are in fraternities, 34% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Nevada-Reno, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act campus safety disclosures. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.