UNR Acceptance Rate
So, you’re thinking about applying to the University of Nevada-Reno (often referred to simply as “UNR”), and you’re curious about your chances of admission. Well, we’re here to help! Of course, there are a lot of factors in the admissions process, and it’s impossible to accurately predict whether you’ll be admitted or not. However, the most important factors in the admissions game are your GPA and test scores. So, using those as a measure, we can give you an estimate of your chances.
Test Type
With an acceptance rate of 83%, admission to UNR is mildly competitive. Based on our analysis, to have a good chance of being admitted, you need to be at the top of your class and have an SAT score of close to 1200, or an ACT score of around 24.
Not quite there? Try taking our SAT prep course and you’ll still have a chance of getting in, but it’s in the single digits. Let’s take a closer look at UNR admission statistics.
UNR Admissions Statistics
UNR’s acceptance rate in 2017 was 83%. For students applying to the class of 2021, out of 9,644 applicants, UNR admitted about 7,986. The average GPA of admitted applicants was 3.38, the average ACT score was 24, and the average SAT score was 1150.
For students who took the ACT, the 25th percentile score of successful applicants was 21, and the 75th percentile score was 26.
For students who took the SAT, the 25th percentile score was 1050. The 75th percentile score was 1260.
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If you’re somewhere in the middle of these numbers, remember that a high test score can compensate for a slightly lower GPA, and vice versa. If you’re at the lower end, it helps if you’re a diverse applicant, the child of an alum, or have incredible personal achievements. Still, at the 25th percentile, your chances of getting in are in the low single digits.
Other aspects of your application, such as athletics, extracurricular and recommendations, are important, but will likely only make a difference for admission if you’re in the 75th percentile range for your GPA and SAT/ACT scores.
As we said, admission to UNR is mildly competitive. Even if UNR is your dream school, and even if you’re in the 75th percentile, you’ll still want to make sure you apply to a wide variety of schools to ensure you’ll gain admission somewhere.
Generally, you should have at least three safety schools (where you are in the 75th percentile of GPA/test scores), three reach schools (where you are in the 25th percentile of GPA/test scores) and three target schools (where you are near the average for GPA/test scores) on your list.
OK, so you’ve decided to apply. We took a look at UNR’s admissions requirements to help you get everything in order.
UNR Application Requirements
To apply to UNR, you’ll need to fill out the UNR Online Application, submit an ACT or SAT score, pay the $60 application fee, and submit your high school transcript. Everything should be submitted by November 15 for Early Action, and May 18th for Regular Decision.
Here’s a full list of application requirements:
- Fill out the UNR Online Application
- Submit an ACT score or SAT score
- Pay the $60 application fee
- Submit your high school transcript
The application deadline is November 15th for Early Action and May 18th for Regular Decision. February 1st is the financial aid application deadline.
Have you been admitted to UNR? Congratulations! Below is a glimpse of what your classmates will be like.
UNR Admitted Students Profile
If you matriculate at UNR, you’ll be joining a diverse class, with students from all over the U.S. and the world, and have a chance to study in dozens of fields.
Here are some interesting facts about the recently admitted class:
- Roughly 47% are male and 53% are female
- 11% of students are international
UNR has a diverse class, as well, with a large number of people of color. The ethnicities of admitted applicants are:
- International: 11%
- Underrepresented minority: 1.6%
- Two or more races: 7.1%
What do these admitted students plan to study? UNR offers dozens of majors, and students matriculating there pursue a wide number of subjects. Here is a list of some of the top programs:
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- Engineering
- Business
- Social Sciences
Now, how are you going to pay for this?
UNR Tuition Figures
At $37,410, UNR’s cost of attendance is astronomical. But, don’t panic! Most incoming students receive some form of financial aid, and the average award is $5,400.
Here’s a fuller look at UNR tuition and financial aid in 2017:
- Total budget: $37,410
- Average financial aid package: $5,400
- The average student debt of a UNR graduate is $23,110
Now, what is life like at UNR? Let’s take a look.
UNR Location
The school’s main campus is located in Reno, Nevada, located just north of downtown Reno itself.
The campus’ quad is actually modeled after the one Thomas Jefferson designed for the University of Virginia and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Remember, you’re going to UNR for its excellent academics! Below is a look at what academic life will be like.
UNR Academics
UNR has dozens of majors. Some of the school’s more interesting majors are:
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation
- Business Administration and Management
- Child Development
- Drama
- Engineering Physics
- Finance
- Geophysics and Seismology
- History
- International Relations and Affairs
- Journalism
- Marketing
- Natural Resources Management and Policy
- Philosophy
- Pre-Veterinary Studies
- Sociology
- Water Resources Engineering
Now, let’s take a look at life outside the classroom at UNR.
Student Life at UNR
UNR has hundreds of student organizations, covering academic interests, creative and performing arts, cultural and racial initiatives, gender and sexuality affinity groups, government and politics interests, and various media and publications.
Here’s a sampling of UNR’s student activities:
- Undergraduate Behavior Analysis Club
- UNR Game Developers
- FREEDOM
- Professional Network of Women
- Journalism Student Council
- Nevada Physical Therapy Club
- Nevada Cyber Club
- Ceramic Society of the University of Nevada
- Nevada Dance Co-Op
- The UNR Novel Ideas Book Club
- Nevada Disney
- UNR Entreprenuership Club
- Linguistics Club
- UNRtists: Student Art Club
- Economics Club
- UNR Spoken Word
- Photography Club
Are you an athlete? UNR’s got plenty of options for you.
UNR Athletics
UNR offers a large number of intercollegiate sports, with extensive varsity, as well as club, offerings, for both men and women. So, if you’re not up to varsity level, remember there are plenty of club and intramural sports to try out for, too.
UNR’s sports include:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Tennis
Who might you become with a UNR degree? Let’s take a look at some well-known and successful alums:
Notable Alums
UNR has produced politicians, business tycoons, entertainers, musicians, media figures, and leaders in dozens of other fields.
Here’s a list of some particularly well-known alums:
- Author Walter Van Tilburg Clark
- Jazz musician Peter Epstein
- Composer Lorie Line
- Journalist Cathy Scott
- Opera singer Dolora Zajick
- US Representative Mark E. Amodei
- US Senator Catherine Cortez Masto
- Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval
- NBA player Luke Babbitt
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Susan Desmond-Hellmann
- Professional poker player Jennifer Harman
- Philosopher John Etchemendy
And this is only a partial list!
Remember!
Getting into UNR is mildly competitive. Don’t despair if you get a no from there. If you have a strong GPA and high test scores, you have a great chance of getting into at least one of the more competitive schools. And if you don’t, remember: where you go is NOT who you are. If you work hard, you’ll end up at a school that’s right for you, and still get a great education.
If you need to boost your GPA or test scores before application time rolls around, you should consider signing up for a course with Prep Expert. We offer one-on-one tutoring and classes, both in-person and online, at locations throughout the United States.
Our expert teachers and tutors will not only share with you tried and true methods for improving your score, but also help you correct deficiencies in any subject that you’re having difficulty with—English, Writing, Mathematics or Science.
Additionally, online classes can be watched On Demand, so if you miss a class due to your busy schedule, you can catch it online later. We have helped hundreds of students get the scores they need to attend the school of their dreams.
For more test strategy, college admissions, and scholarship application tips sign up for our FREE class happening right now!
Written by Dr. Shaan Patel MD MBA
Prep Expert Founder & CEO
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