University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, Nevada · Public · 73.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 75/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Nevada-Reno scores 75 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, with $41,600 average 6-year earnings, an 8.0-year payback period, and in-state tuition of $9,578. The 61.2% completion rate is a drag on an otherwise solid profile. UNR's program mix skews toward STEM and business with meaningful breadth. Registered Nursing leads the top: 180 graduates, $85,733 year-one, A-grade ROI. Computer Engineering earns $100,203 at year four (B+ grade); Civil Engineering (88 graduates, $67,379 year-one) and Mechanical Engineering (95 graduates, $61,977 year-one) both carry solid ROI grades. Accounting (51 graduates, $59,218 year-one, B+ grade) and Finance (132 graduates, $51,495 year-one, B+ grade) anchor a strong business segment. The 40+ program entries in the data reflect UNR's research university scope - with corresponding variation in outcomes. Mining and geological engineering connect to Nevada's extractive industry economy. English ($24,797 year-one, F-grade) and Communication Disorders ($23,733 year-one, D-grade) represent the field's pre-graduate-school earnings pattern more than program failure, but students should account for graduate school debt in those fields.
University of Nevada-Reno scores in the top 19% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Nevada-Reno
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,578/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,720/yr |
| Average net price | $15,927/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $63,708 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,614 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,922 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $201 |
| Estimated payback period | 8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 15,599 |
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: $9,578/year ($27,720/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $15,927/year, or roughly $63,708 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 $12,674/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,646/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,922, which works out to about $201 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,600) and comes to 0.46, which in our view is 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 | $12,674 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,125 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,537 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,317 |
| $110,001+ | $21,646 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from the 0-30000 bracket pay $12,674 per year - $50,696 over four years. Nursing graduates earning $85,733 year-one recover the entire four-year investment in under eight months of employment. Even for mid-range programs like business and accounting, the $50,696 total cost against year-one earnings of $45,000-$59,000 delivers under two years to payback. UNR is a strong value for low-income Nevada students in the right programs.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $14,537 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $18,317 per year. At $73,268 over four years for the upper-middle bracket, UNR's engineering and business programs are good values. The 8-year aggregate payback overstates the typical STEM or business student experience - nursing and engineering students pay back in two to three years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $21,646 per year - $86,584 over four years. Engineering and nursing remain strong values. Programs posting D or F grades (Communication Disorders, English, Fine Arts) carry the same $86,584 total.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Nevada-Reno with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $68,419 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $97,949 | A |
| Marketing | $67,914 | C+ |
| Psychology | $51,553 | C |
| Biology | $59,715 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $72,227 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $77,237 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,460 | B |
| Civil Engineering | $81,201 | B+ |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $52,084 | C |
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
Registered Nursing (180 graduates) earns $85,733 at year one and $97,949 at year four with $20,813 median debt and a 0.243 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade A). An A-grade outcome at $9,578 in-state tuition makes nursing at UNR a strong value proposition for healthcare students. Nevada has consistent healthcare labor demand, and the Northern Nevada hospital market absorbs nursing graduates efficiently.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering (88 graduates) earns $67,379 at year one and $81,201 at year four with $23,250 median debt and a 0.345 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B+). Civil Engineering is UNR's highest-volume engineering program. Nevada's infrastructure investment and growth in construction drive consistent demand. The B+ reflects solid outcomes at a state university price point.
Accounting
Accounting (51 graduates) earns $59,218 at year one and $85,943 at year four with $17,116 median debt and a 0.289 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B+). Accounting at UNR is a strong value - the Nevada gaming, hospitality, and financial services sector creates demand for accounting professionals. Year-four earnings of $85,943 against $17,116 debt reflects a rapid payback trajectory.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (132 graduates) earns $51,495 at year one and $72,227 at year four with $15,000 median debt and a 0.291 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B+). Finance is UNR's largest business program with strong B+ outcomes. Low median debt of $15,000 against year-four earnings of $72,227 is a fast payback. Nevada's finance sector - particularly in Reno's growing technology economy - absorbs graduates into financial planning, banking, and corporate finance roles.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (95 graduates) earns $61,977 at year one and $88,460 at year four with $22,750 median debt and a 0.367 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B). ME is UNR's second-largest engineering program. Graduates enter Nevada's growing manufacturing, mining, and technology sectors. Reno's emergence as a tech manufacturing hub - through Tesla's Gigafactory and related suppliers - creates sustained demand for mechanical engineers.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Nevada-Reno’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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 | 73.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-640 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-26 |
| Enrollment | 15,599 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 22.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,293 |
UNR admits 73.7% of applicants with SAT Math 520-640 and ACT 19-26. The broad range indicates UNR accepts students across a wide academic spectrum. Out-of-state students at $27,720 tuition should model their specific program's earnings premium carefully against the higher cost.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UNR's engineering and nursing programs are its competitive strengths.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nevada-Reno (this school) | 75 | $15,927 | $60,614 |
| Towson University | 79 | $17,413 | $64,390 |
| University of Rhode Island | 79 | $21,440 | $69,743 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 76 | $11,900 | $64,270 |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 67 | $10,359 | $55,037 |
| Nevada State University | 58 | $14,068 | $53,166 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Nevada-Reno side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UNR enrolls 15,599 undergraduates in Reno, Nevada - a mid-size flagship research university. SAT mid-range is 520-640 Math and 540-650 Reading; ACT 19-26. Admission is accessible at 73.7%. The Pell rate of 22.9% reflects a largely middle-income Nevada student body. UNR draws heavily from Nevada high school graduates. Students targeting engineering, business, or healthcare will find well-resourced programs at a low price for in-state students. UNR's Wolf Pack campus culture is active; students who want a research university experience in a mid-size western city will find Reno increasingly competitive as a post-graduation job market.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Nevada-Reno pays off. You'd pay about $15,927 a year after aid ($63,708 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $60,614 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $18,922 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Nevada-Reno: Common Questions
Is University of Nevada-Reno worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Nevada-Reno pays off. It scores 75/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $15,927 a year after aid ($63,708 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $60,614 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 8 years to earn back.
How much does University of Nevada-Reno cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $15,927 a year, or roughly $63,708 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Nevada-Reno graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $60,614 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,814 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Nevada-Reno?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8 years for University of Nevada-Reno. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Nevada-Reno graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,922, against average earnings of $41,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Nevada-Reno?
The six-year graduation rate is 61.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.