Nevada's flagship public research university, home to the Wolf Pack since 1874.
UNR offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs through nine colleges and schools, including Agriculture, Business, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Science, Nursing, Public Health, and Journalism. The university maintains 560+ academic programs and is classified as a Carnegie R1 research institution, spending $144 million on research and development in 2018. The School of Medicine and the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism are particularly notable, with the latter producing six Pulitzer Prize winners. For fall 2024–2025, the middle 50% of enrolled students scored between 1050 and 1360 on the SAT.
The main campus spans 200 acres just north of downtown Reno, overlooking Truckee Meadows. Historic landmarks include Morrill Hall (1887) and the tree-lined Quad, modeled after the University of Virginia. Modern facilities include the Matthewson-IGT Knowledge Center (opened 2008, $75.3 million), the E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center (opened 2017, $46 million), and Mackay Stadium (30,000 capacity). UNR operates 9 on-campus residence halls, 20+ dining venues, and hosts 300+ student clubs and organizations. The university maintains a Lake Tahoe campus (acquired 2022) offering graduate programs and a nursing program launching fall 2026.
UNR accepts applications from freshman, transfer, international, graduate, and returning students. The university is a member of Common App and accepts first-year applications via that platform. Specific admission requirements and deadlines are available through the university's admissions portal. Graduate programs number over 165, with specialized pathways for School of Medicine applicants.
In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked UNR tied for 204th nationally and 113th among public universities. Forbes ranked it 167th overall and 74th among public universities. Washington Monthly ranked it 138th (2020) based on contribution to public good. The university maintains a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio and emphasizes research opportunities across all disciplines, with 60+ research centers and facilities supporting student engagement.