University of Nevada, Las Vegas College Portrait
University of Nevada, Las Vegas4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 451021 Las Vegas, NV 89154-1021
702-895-3011
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
At UNLV, possibilities are determined not by circumstance, but by spirit. It’s something we have inherited from the city we call home. From education and culture to the economy and renewable energy, what once was spoken as potential is now being realized in tangible advancements at the university, within the community, and across the region.
UNLV is a comprehensive research university of approximately 28,000 students and 2,900 faculty and staff. The university has internationally recognized programs in hotel administration and creative writing; professional degrees in law, architecture, and dental medicine; and leading programs in fine arts, sciences and education. UNLV is located on a 332-acre main campus and two satellite campuses in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is classified in the category of Research Universities (high research activity) by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Living in the Community
UNLV has made great strides forward—strides that are part and parcel to providing the cultural and academic center of one of our nation’s most dynamic metropolitan regions. Our students are exposed to rich campus, cultural and community experiences that help define them as individuals while also providing the inspiration to persevere and become well-rounded graduates prepared to lead in their chosen fields.
UNLV’s undergraduate, graduate and professional students become part of an engaging campus culture—one dedicated to those who flourish under high academic standards and who are committed to enhancing the educational experience through research with an entrepreneurial, innovative, and unconventional spirit. The UNLV campus community is dedicated to engaging with the community to meet the many challenges faced in the Southwest brought on by rapid urban growth, economic and cultural diversity, social justice, and sustainability of our fragile eco-system.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
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| Total Students | 27,378 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 22,138 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 12,130 | 55% |
| Men | 10,008 | 45% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 128 | 1% |
| Asian | 3,674 | 17% |
| African American / Black | 1,747 | 8% |
| Hispanic | 4,204 | 19% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 471 | 2% |
| White | 9,477 | 43% |
| Two or More Races | 1,155 | 5% |
| International | 865 | 4% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 417 | 2% |
| Where do UNLV undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Nevada | 83% |
| Other US States & Territories | 13% |
| Other Countries | 4% |
| How old are UNLV undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 25% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 19 - 24 | |
| Math | 18 - 24 | 450 - 570 |
| English | 18 - 24 | |
| Critical Reading | 440 - 560 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 48% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 80% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 80% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.22 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 99% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2011-12 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $20,824.00
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend University of Nevada, Las Vegas varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 44% of 2011-12 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $5,046.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 45% of 2011-12 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,472.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
UNLV Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 22 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 56% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 82% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 780 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 36% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 23% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 88% |
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Campus-based Housing
21% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
4% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
The UNLV Police Department subscribes to the community policing philosophy. This progressive approach to modern policing is the central theme that guides the department's efforts to interactions with the UNLV community in order to identify and solve problems. In addition, the UNLV Police Department uses a myriad of patrol platforms that enhance the overall effectiveness and delivery of police services to our community around the clock.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Medium full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral with medical/veterinary
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at UNLV
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 89% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 55% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 21% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 80% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 18% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 48% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 45% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 9% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 95% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 87% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 62% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 54% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 92% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 47% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 67% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 93% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 68% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 63% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 86% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 64% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 68% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 73% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 73% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 3,771 |
| Master's | 1,277 |
| Doctoral | 355 |
| Total | 5,403 |
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| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 18% |
| Hospitality Administration/Management, General | 17% |
| PSYCHOLOGY | 8% |
| EDUCATION | 7% |
| HOMELAND SECURITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTING AND RELATED PROTECTIVE SERVICES | 5% |
| Links to degree programs at University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 78% four-year success and progress rate means that 78% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 2,946 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,555 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 76%
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Student Learning at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is committed to a program of assessment that focuses primarily upon the improvement of learning and teaching. UNLV acknowledges that learning and teaching occur both within and outside the classroom. In addition to the improvement of learning and teaching, UNLV’s assessment program is designed to clearly describe our students and their development to a variety of internal and external constituents (e.g. students, faculty, parents, employers, accreditors, legislators, Regents, and other taxpayers).
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
Results from the College Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP)
The Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) measures critical thinking and written communication using two test modules -- critical thinking and a writing essay. The critical thinking and writing scores are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 62
Senior Score: 65
CAAP score range: 40 to 80
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 21
Senior Score: 22
Writing Essay Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 3
Senior Score: 3
CAAP score range: 1 to 6
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 21
Senior Score: 22