As you look at different college options, you may be wondering – is UNLV truly a good school? Could it provide the type of experiences, learning, and community you hope for in higher education? Does it make financial sense for your family? In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll analyze UNLV across several key areas to address those questions. I‘ll offer insights and metrics for you to weigh as you make this important life decision.
In this 3,000+ word piece, you‘ll learn about:
- UNLV‘s academic programs, research activity, accolades and more
- Campus life details covering housing, food, sports, activities and diversity
- The surrounding city and unique opportunities available
- Career support offerings that boost job prospects
- What students pay, loan debt trends and scholarships
- My final take – is UNLV ultimately worth it?
Let‘s explore the key dimensions of UNLV‘s value proposition as a university. Once we cover the academics, experience, facilities, location, affordability and post-grad outcomes, you‘ll have the tools to determine if it suits your college needs.
Strong Academics Backed by Rankings & Research
UNLV offers over 215 bachelor‘s, master‘s and doctoral programs spanning a wide spectrum – from architects to zoologists and everything between. This gives you diverse options to explore different disciplines before declaring a major.
Several of UNLV‘s colleges and programs also hold Top 100 rankings and prestigious accreditations:
- #1 Hospitality Management Program in the world (QS World University Rankings)
- #30 Online Bachelor‘s Programs among public schools (US News)
- Top 50 Public Affairs Graduate Program (US News & World Report)
- Top 75 Part-Time MBA program (Bloomberg Businessweek)
- Top 100 Nursing Graduate Program (US News & World Report)
- A A A A+ Business School Accreditation (AACSB International)
Such external validation signals the quality of education delivered across undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels.
UNLV also classifies among the top research universities in the country based on over $65 million in annual research funding and expenditures. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education categorizes UNLV as an R1 "very high research activity" university – placing it amongst universities driving innovation.
Through participating in research projects across disciplines, you‘ll benefit from mentoring relationships with professors, hands-on experience with advanced tools and methodology, and the potential for published papers before even graduating. Such inquiry-based learning and critical thinking better prepares you for impact in your career or graduate studies afterward.
Vibrant Campus Life
Beyond the academics, the campus experience plays a major role in college satisfaction. With over 30,000 students, UNLV offers vibrant social scenes, activities, traditions and events year-round. As the largest and most diverse university in Nevada, you‘ll meet interesting peers from an array of backgrounds.
Here‘s a snapshot of undergraduate student demographics:
- 43% identify as Hispanic or Latino
- 7% identify as Black or African American
- 20% identify as Asian American/Asian
- 4% identify as two or more races
- 45% speak a language besides English at home
This diversity leads to rich cultural exchanges, perspectives, and friendships you may not find at smaller colleges elsewhere. Through immersing yourself in the fabric of campus life, you will emerge more socially conscious and better prepared for today‘s globalized workplace.
Speaking of global culture, Las Vegas hosts over 40 million visitors a year seeking world-class cuisine, entertainment and attractions on the Strip. As a UNLV student, icons like the Bellagio fountains, High Roller observation wheel, or Cirque du Soleil shows are practically in your backyard.
When it comes to student activities on campus, UNLV has over 300 registered organizations spanning academic clubs, cultural associations, dance teams, fraternities/sororities, performing arts groups, publications, spirit squads, visual arts clubs, volunteer programs and more.
In other words, any interest or passion you may have can likely be pursued through a student organization with like-minded peers. And if not, you have the infrastructure to launch your own club and make an impact on campus. The Student Activities website details each organization‘s meeting times, locations, leadership contacts, events calendars and more.
For sports fans, UNLV is an NCAA Division I school offering popular D1 men‘s and women‘s sports. The football team plays home games at Allegiant Stadium – the largest event center in Las Vegas. Season tickets typically run students between $75 to $100 for admission to all home games.
The men‘s basketball team has especially devout Rebels fans who pack the 18,000 seat Thomas & Mack Center on campus. Expect thunderous cheers, sea of red apparel, and electric energy similar to Duke or other premiere basketball programs during conference matchups and March Madness.
Beyond sports, the Thomas & Mack Center also hosts major concerts, speakers, comedians and entertainment acts which students can access for free or discounted rates. Artists coming through UNLV have included Billie Eilish, Kevin Hart, Post Malone, Katy Perry, Kendrick Lamar and more.
When it comes to housing, undergraduates have several on-campus options:
- Tonopah Community – Offers single & double occupancy rooms, private/shared bathrooms, recreational spaces, convenience store and coffee shop.
- Dayton Complex – Suite-style rooms with kitchenettes and living rooms to accommodate groups of 4-6 students.
- South Complex – Apartment units featuring single & double rooms with a shared kitchen and common living area.
Undergraduates typically live on-campus for at least the first year to connect with hallmates, resident assistants, join communities, and adapt comfortably before moving off-campus.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
With recent investments exceeding $2 billion, the UNLV campus provides advanced facilities conducive for your learning and development.
The expansive UNLV Library system offers access to millions of books, films, journal articles, special collections and government documents. New additions include graduate student study rooms, streaming media collections, writing center, IT help desk, presentation rooms…plus a robot that retrieves books!
Academic buildings like Hospitality Hall, Center for Business, Health Sciences engineering complexes and Shadow Lane Campus provide cutting-edge spaces that mirror real working environments in Las Vegas. Studying psychology? The new UNLV Nevada Behavioral Health & Wellness Center offers clinical spaces comparable to major healthcare networks.
UNLV also operates an on-campus Student Recreation & Wellness Center featuring state-of-the-art equipment, game courts, swimming pools, fitness studios, personal training and nutrition guidance. Additional recreational spaces include the Fertitta Tennis Complex, Barrick Practice Fields, and North Field.
And the Student Union provides a central hub on campus home to a food court, convenience store, ballrooms, lounges and theatre hosting major events throughout the year.
Bottom line – with advanced facilities across academic, recreational, housing and dining dimensions – UNLV delivers the modern amenities expected at any major university today.
Career Support That Boosts Prospects
While you likely care more about life after graduation vs facilities during school, UNLV still aims to prepare you for career success.
The UNLV Career Services department supports all students (not just seniors) with advising, workshops, networking events and access to part-time jobs, internships and employers. Services include:
- Individual career coaching
- Resume, CV, cover letter reviews
- Mock interviews & negotiation
- LinkedIn profile Optimization
- Career fairs hosting 100+ companies
- Handshake app with 12K+ openings
- Ongoing employer events
Positions frequently filled by current students and recent grads include Business Analysts, Consultants, Designers, Engineers, Entrepreneurs, Financial Analysts, Hospitality Managers, Product Managers, Medical Residents, Scientists, Teachers and more.
Top employers include Amazon Web Services, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cisco Meraki, Clark County School District, MGM Resorts International, Nevada State Bank, Target, The Cosmopolitan, Three Square Food Bank, Wells Fargo and hundreds more.
So whether you plan to work locally after graduation or in another state, UNLV‘s career resources will prove valuable in landing that first job.
What Will It Cost?
Let‘s discuss the tuition, fees and scholarship options that impact affordability.
For in-state residents, UNLV‘s current annual tuition and fees total $7,176. For non-residents, this climbs to $21,366 per year. Over four years, a typical bachelor‘s degree would cost in-state students under $30K and out-of-state students under $85K for tuition/fees alone.
Compare this to private universities charging $40K, $50K or even over $60K per year. Even other quality public schools like UC Berkeley ($44K out-of-state) or University of Michigan ($52K out-of-state) cost significantly more.
So if coming from out-of-state, UNLV can provide strong savings over attending your home state‘s schools. On average each class has around 33% of students coming from other states – suggesting strong appeal.
Now what about scholarships, grants and other aid? UNLV distributes over $320 million annually across scholarships, waivers, work-study programs and more. In 2020-2021:
- Institutional aid averaged $9,534 per student
- 86% of undergrads receive some form of financial assistance
- For families earning under $30K, 100% of tuition/fees are covered
- For families earning $30K – $75K, students pay only $3,317 per year
So while UNLV‘s published tuition rates appear affordable, the actual out-of-pocket costs end up lower after factoring aid. Always confirm precisely what your direct costs would be using UNLV‘s Net Price Calculator based on family income and assets.
Strong Outcomes Across Jobs, Grad School & Pay
While incoming student profiles provide one measure for admissions selectivity and program quality – outcomes after graduation matter more for assessing program impact.
Let‘s examine metrics around employment, salaries, and admission rates into top graduate school programs:
- 92% employment rate for undergraduates after graduation
- Median starting salaries of $55,100 for bachelor degree holders
- Over 30% of bachelor‘s earners continue to grad schools ranked nationally
- Among graduate professional schools, UNLV acceptance rates include:
- 100% for Yale Child Study Center
- 100% for Mayo Medical School
- 93% at University of Pennsylvania
- 90% at UC San Francisco Medical
- 89% UC Berkeley School of Law
- 85% at UCLA Health Sciences
Such data indicates strong workforce preparedness among graduates, earning potential in line with national averages, and capabilities qualifying candidates for even top graduate programs nationwide.
For context, Ivy League schools with single-digit acceptance rates under 5% actually demonstrate UNLV grads stack up very capably through holistic, blind evaluations.
Las Vegas Opportunities Beyond Campus
As discussed earlier, Las Vegas provides amenities, culture, events, attractions and activities that easily complement campus life. But beyond entertainment, the city offers unique professional opportunities as well.
With over 160,000 hotel rooms, Las Vegas represents America‘s premier hospitality and events epicenter. Major multinational resorts, casinos, food/beverage groups and entertainment brands house their global headquarters here – including MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn, Cosmopolitan, Tao Group and more.
The Las Vegas Convention Center also stands as one of the only LEED Gold certified convention centers worldwide. Hosting over 22,000 annual meetings and 6 million delegates,studprising careers abound for graduates interested in events, exhibitions, venue management and business travel.
Las Vegas continues attracting new professional sports franchises like the NFL Raiders, NHL‘s Golden Knights, WNBA‘s Las Vegas Aces and USL‘s Lights FC as America‘s next major league sports city. With the NFL Draft coming in 2024, opportunities keep growing for sports business roles.
Tech employers also expand footprints given Nevada‘s affordable tax structure, base of engineering talent and geospatial positioning on West Coast backbone infrastructure. New data centers get announced regularly by Amazon Web Services, Google, Oracle and Microsoft to meet cloud demand. High-growth fintech disruptors like Blockchains LLC chose Nevada for their futuristic Innovation Park as well.
In other words, major industries concentrate corporate operations in Las Vegas specifically given talent, infrastructure and geographic advantages. This translates to more full-time jobs, internships and networking contacts for motivated UNLV students before they finish their degree.
Conclusion: Is UNLV Ultimately Worth It?
Given everything we just covered – where does UNLV stand relative to other schools you may be considering for college?
Here is my expert take based on the numbers, data and dimensions discussed:
For in-state students – UNLV likely provides the best combination of cost, academic offerings and outcomes for Nevada residents compared to any alternative. Graduating over 7,400 students annually into the workforce, UNLV efficiently serves as higher education‘s major pipeline developing talent that powers Nevada‘s economy.
For out-of-state students – UNLV delivers comparative quality and experiences versus much pricier public flagships back home. The unique location also enables professional exposure unavailable elsewhere. If seeking a degree holding national stature – particularly in resort management, entertainment, events, sports or hospitality sectors – UNLV deserves a close look.
Across all applicants – Behind the scenes, UNLV operates on par with some of the nation‘s most admired state universities when it comes to research, graduate outcomes and lifelong impact. But front-facing perceptions still catch up to realities on the ground as UNLV continues ascending national rankings.
In closing, as you make your college selection, I hope this guide brought greater visibility to UNLV‘s value proposition – far beyond just perceptions. Feel free to reach out if any other questions come up!