Survey: UNR makes top 200 national universities
The University of Nevada, Reno made the list of top 200 colleges and universities in the nation, according to the annual survey of 1,800 higher education institutions released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the other five higher education institutions surveyed in Nevada were unranked in the overall undergraduate survey.
UNR tied for 194th place with six other universities, including Utah State University, Kent State University and the University of Montana. The ranking was 13 spots lower for UNR than last year’s survey.
“Our top-tier ranking is an indication of the quality and value we offer students, and about our faculty’s world-improving research and the continued contributions of university staff,” said UNR president Marc Johnson in a statement.
Despite being unranked in the overall survey, UNLV was ranked in some of the survey’s subcategories. UNLV president Donald Snyder remained optimistic about the university’s future as the school pushes to be the first in the state to earn the highest ranking as a Carnegie Research university, a prestigious designation from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Regarding the survey, Snyder said, “I’m encouraged that UNLV is again ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the most diverse campuses for undergraduates, and that the rankings indicate our recent graduates are entering their careers with among the least amount of debt of any college graduates in the nation.”
The survey found UNLV to be one of the most diverse national universities. Based on 2013 enrollment, more than half — 57 percent — of UNLV undergraduates were part of a racial or ethnic minority. Latinos made up the largest percentage of undergraduate students at 23 percent.
Luis Valera, vice president of diversity initiatives and government affairs, said, “Exposing students to a host of cultural backgrounds enriches the learning experience.”
In March, UNLV saw 11 graduate and specialty programs ranked by U.S. News, including Boyd Law School that was ranked 83rd among law schools in the nation.
This is the 30th year that U.S. News has conducted the survey. Editor Brian Kelly said in a statement, “Our goal for the past 30 years has been to provide families with the most comprehensive information on colleges to help them make one of life’s most important – and often most costly – decisions.”
Contact Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or702-224-5512. Find him on Twitter: @fjmccabe
