University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada · Public · 96.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 67/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UNLV posts a 67/100 ROI score in our Fair Value tier, anchored by an excellent 48.4% earnings premium over the high-school baseline - one of the strongest in the public-university market. Median earnings of $39,300 six years out climb to $55,037 by year ten. The school's affordability is its biggest advantage: in-state tuition of $9,748 and a net price of just $10,359 push four-year cost to $41,436 - among the lowest published totals on our database for a major public research university. Median debt of $19,450 against $39,300 early earnings yields a 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio, well within the manageable zone, with a 9.1-year paybackPeriod. Where UNLV stumbles is on the back end: a 50.5% completion rate is below average for a public flagship-tier institution, and the three-year repayment rate of 63.9% is mediocre. The student body of 24,622 is large, with a 40.1% Pell rate reflecting Nevada's economic profile and UNLV's role as the affordable urban public option. Engineering, nursing, computer science, and accounting programs deliver strong outcomes; hospitality administration (425 graduates, the largest program) and broad business programs deliver respectable but middling earnings. UNLV is one of the cleaner public-university value plays in the Mountain West, especially for in-state students.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,748/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,411/yr |
| Average net price | $10,359/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $41,436 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,037 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,450 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $206 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 24,622 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $9,748/year ($27,411/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $10,359/year, or roughly $41,436 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $8,526/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,905/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $19,450 in federal loans, which works out to about $206 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $55,037 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.49, comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,526 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,537 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,606 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,513 |
| $110,001+ | $15,905 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $8,526 net - an outstanding number reflecting Pell, Nevada Promise, and institutional aid. Across four years that's $34,104 against $39,300 graduate earnings - among the cleanest low-income value math in our database. Pell-eligible Nevada residents with clear program targets should treat UNLV as a top-tier value play.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001 - $48,000 bracket pays $8,537 (essentially the same as the lowest bracket), $48,001 - $75,000 pays $10,606, and $75,001 - $110,000 pays $13,513 - a clean monotonic progression. Middle-income families pay $34,000-$54,000 over four years, manageable against expected earnings. The math is solid for any in-state student picking a credentialing program.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $15,905 - about $63,620 across four years. Even at full price for in-state, UNLV remains one of the cheaper flagship-tier publics in the country. High-income full-pay students get strong engineering and nursing programs at a price that lets them graduate debt-free with family support.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Nevada-Las Vegas with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $51,200 | C |
| Hospitality Administration | $58,719 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,556 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $56,095 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,798 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $94,600 | A |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,944 | C |
| Biology | $62,087 | D |
| Computer Science | $94,475 | B+ |
| Accounting | $74,490 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
UNLV's nursing program is the school's flagship value play: 224 graduates with first-year earnings of $83,327 climbing to $94,600 by year four. Median debt of $19,733 yields a 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio - an A grade. With Nevada's hospital labor shortages and Las Vegas's dense healthcare market, BSN graduates step directly into 6-figure-trajectory careers. This is one of the strongest nursing programs in the public-university market on a price-to-outcomes basis.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates 169 students with first-year earnings of $64,854 climbing to $94,475 by year four. Median debt of $21,012 yields a 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio (B+ grade). Strong placement into Las Vegas tech, gaming-industry software, and remote roles for West Coast firms. UNLV's CS program is a credible alternative to higher-priced California publics for students who can secure remote work or local placements.
Hospitality Administration
Hospitality is UNLV's signature program by volume - 425 graduates annually, the largest program in our entire dataset for many comparison purposes. First-year earnings of $35,277 climb to $58,719 by year four, with $19,003 median debt yielding a 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio (C+ grade). Direct pipeline into Las Vegas's gaming, hotel, and entertainment industries. Earnings are not exceptional but the local network and industry connections are genuinely top-tier in the country.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 169 students with first-year earnings of $49,751 climbing to $74,490 by year four. Median debt of $18,159 yields a 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade). CPA-pipeline students who pass the licensure exam see strong career trajectory; the debt is modest enough that even before licensure, the math is comfortable. Solid mid-volume value play.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering graduates 114 students with first-year earnings of $67,050 climbing to $97,901 by year four. Median debt of $20,500 yields a 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio (B+ grade). Among the strongest engineering ROI profiles in the Mountain West public system, with placement into aerospace, energy, and Western US engineering firms. A clear pick for in-state students with engineering aptitude.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 57.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 63.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Nevada-Las Vegas’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 96.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 500-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-25 |
| Enrollment | 24,622 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 40.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,197 |
UNLV admits 96.2% of applicants - effectively open access, a posture appropriate for a metro public serving Nevada's workforce. SAT mid-ranges of 500-610 (math) and 510-630 (reading) and an ACT range of 18-25 indicate a broad, mid-academic student body. The 50.5% completion rate is the natural consequence of access-oriented admission: many enrolled students arrive underprepared for full-time university work. Students who arrive with strong high-school records and clear program targets can extract excellent value here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among UNLV's listed peers - University of Nevada Reno, Nevada State University, University of Mississippi, University of Kentucky, and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - UNLV stacks up well. UNR posts a similar ROI score with slightly stronger completion. Mississippi and Kentucky are larger flagships with comparable earnings outcomes but somewhat higher costs. UTRGV is a closer demographic peer (high Pell, urban public access). Nevada State, the smallest peer, posts weaker earnings. UNLV's hospitality and gaming programs give it national-level reputation in those niches that most peers can't match.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas (this school) | 67 | $10,359 | $55,037 |
| University of Nevada-Reno | 75 | $15,927 | $60,614 |
| University of Kentucky | 69 | $18,851 | $59,025 |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 69 | $4,831 | $49,620 |
| University of Mississippi | 65 | $13,314 | $50,994 |
| Nevada State University | 58 | $14,068 | $53,166 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Nevada-Las Vegas side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UNLV fits Nevada residents seeking an affordable urban public with strong programs in engineering, nursing, computer science, hospitality, and accounting. With 24,622 students and a 40.1% Pell rate, the campus is large, working-class-leaning, and commuter-heavy. Strong outcomes are concentrated in pre-professional and STEM tracks; students entering hospitality, criminal justice, communications, or psychology see solid but unremarkable earnings. Out-of-state students paying $27,411 sticker tuition should weigh whether their home state's flagship offers a comparable program-specific ROI.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $10,359 a year after aid ($41,436 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $55,037 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 50.5% graduation rate, concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $19,450 against $55,037 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.