•AVERAGE: 69
Nevada’s flagship public research university, the University of Nevada, Reno was founded in 1874, the only institution in the state founded under the Morrill Land Grant Act. The Nevada Territory had reached statehood in the darkest days of the Civil War as a last-ditch bid to re-elect Abraham Lincoln, and the university played a critical role in bringing the new state into the modern age, providing education for leaders and healing to a war-torn region. And it did that job, all alone, for nearly a century as the only public, four-year college in the state until 1965, when its branch campus in Las Vegas became independent. Today, UNR is a national exemplar in engineering, a key component of Nevada’s health care system, and a source of leadership for Nevada’s government, business, and education.
Academic Programs
A top-tier national university in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, with nearly $1 billion in research funding, UNR has a world-class reputation in engineering and other STEM disciplines. The land-grant mission to provide the best agricultural and applied mechanics education of the day has translated into some of the nation’s most impressive bioscience, engineering, and geology programs, with global expertise in earthquakes, civil engineering, and environmental science (such as its research around Lake Tahoe). UNR is home to Nevada’s only medical school (until the UNLV School of Medicine opens in fall 2017), and is a national leader in rural medicine, providing much-needed healthcare to the spread-out population of Nevada.UNR is a leader in professional studies and the humanities as well. The UN College of Business has been acclaimed, particularly for their U.S. News & World Report top 25 MBA program, while journalism, marketing, and communications are some of the strongest programs in their field. The School of Journalism has proudly produced six Pulitzer Prize winners in its three decades. More than 90% of UNR’s faculty hold terminal degrees in their discipline, the highest level of education. Meanwhile, UNR is only three-quarters the price of comparable Tier-1 public research universities, making it an established value.
Student Life
With a student body of over 18,000, UNR has a busy, lively community dedicated to diversity, self-motivation, and service. More than 250 student-led organizations and clubs cover the gamut, from honor societies and professional development to good-old-fashioned fun. The Center, UNR’s official division for diversity issues, sponsors activities and events for multicultural learning, providing solidarity and support for UNR’s many Hispanic/Latino, African-American, and Native American students. An active Greek life, a host of religious groups, and special interests make sure every UNR student finds their place.The UNR Wolfpack is also a popular part of student life, with Division I sports including basketball, football, and many others. The Wolfpack’s primary rival is UNLV, their sister institution in Las Vegas, and they yearly compete for ownership of the Fremont Cannon, a replica of a historic 19th century cannon. On-campus and intramural sports are also popular, as are outdoor sports, one of the most reliable tourist attractions in Nevada. With lakes, mountains, and rivers nearby, many students find their off-time best used outside, windsurfing, boating, hiking, skiing, and snowboarding.