A defunct private mountain university near Lake Tahoe that merged with UNR in 2022.
Sierra Nevada University offered undergraduate degrees through departments of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Business, and Science and Technology, with interdisciplinary studies programs. Notable offerings included a four-year Ski Business and Resort Management degree and teacher education programs leading to Master of Arts in Teaching and Administration degrees. The university operated two low-residency Master of Fine Arts programs in Creative Writing and Interdisciplinary Arts, the latter emphasizing site-specific and community practice with partnerships including UC Davis's Tahoe Environmental Research Center.
Sierra Nevada's Eagles competed in 13 intercollegiate NAIA teams, with particular strength in skiing and snowboarding. The university won numerous United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association national championships. Men's sports included alpine skiing, cross country, freeskiing, golf, lacrosse, snowboarding, and soccer; women competed in alpine skiing, cross country, freeskiing, golf, snowboarding, and soccer.
Founded in 1969 and accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the institution operated as Sierra Nevada College until 2020. In July 2021, a merger with University of Nevada, Reno was announced. On July 21, 2022, Sierra Nevada University formally ceased operations and became the Wayne L. Prim Campus at UNR, with minimal subsequent enrollment at the Lake Tahoe location.