Top Nevada Colleges and Universities

About this article
Nevada, located in the western part of the United States, is widely known for its famous hotel resorts and casinos. The state has several important institutions for higher learning, which are briefly described below.

Top Five Schools in Nevada

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College of Southern Nevada

Primarily a two-year institution, the College of Southern Nevada offers over 100 associate's degrees and one bachelor's degree in dental hygiene. The college was founded in 1971 and has grown to include three campuses in the Las Vegas Metro Area. The College of Southern Nevada is the state's largest institution for higher learning and the fourth-largest community college of this kind in the nation. Many Las Vegas businesses rely heavily on the pragmatic training of CSN to provide well skilled members of the city's workforce.

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

The University of Nevada-Las Vegas, more commonly known as UNLV, was founded in 1957 in the heart of Las Vegas. In fact, the campus is located only about 1.5 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. There are approximately 26,000 undergraduates at UNLV; however only a small percentage actually lives on campus. Among the university's many excellent academic programs is the discipline of hospitality management, a true real-world learning experience for students who live and work in a city that is world-renowned for its many hotels and casinos.

University of Nevada-Reno

Founded in 1874, the University of Nevada-Reno is located just north of downtown Reno, overlooking the many casinos in the city. There are 11,962 undergraduate students at Nevada, many of whom are studying agriculture or the natural sciences. The journalism department at the university is also quickly becoming one of the institution's flagship departments and boasts of several Pulitzer Prize winners. The institution has been recognized as one of the top 150 research institutions in the country.

Great Basin College

Great Basin College was founded in 1967 as Northern Nevada Community College; the name was later changed to reflect the institution's ability to award bachelor's degrees. Currently, there are just under 4,000 students enrolled in the college's many academic programs. Some of the more popular majors include associate's degrees in applied technology and Bachelor of Science in education. The school provides higher education for a vast area that covers over 60,000 square miles.

Nevada State College-Henderson

One of the newest institutions for higher learning in the state, Nevada State College opened its doors in 2002. The campus is located just seven miles southeast of Las Vegas, in the second-largest city in Nevada. The college has experienced very rapid growth and now boasts a population of 1,900 students, making it the fastest-growing institution in Nevada's system of higher education. Many students choose to study in one of the in-demand fields offered by Nevada State, such as nursing, applied science, psychology, biology, visual media, law enforcement, business or education.

Popular Schools

  • Campus and Online Programs
    1. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Game Design Masters - Campus
      • Entertainment Business Masters - Campus
      • Computer Science Masters - Online
      • M.S. - Entertainment Business
      • M.S. - New Media Journalism
      • M.S. - Public Relations
    Bachelor's
      • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
      • Bachelor of Science - Software Development
      • Communications Bachelors with Creative Writing Concentration - Campus
      • Film Production Masters - Campus
      • Communications Bachelors with Media Communications Concentration - Campus
      • Visual Arts Bachelors with Film Concentration - Campus
    Certificate
      • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online
      • User Experience Bachelors - Online
  • Online Programs Available
    2. National University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DBA - General Business
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice
      • Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
      • Doctor of Education in Instructional Design
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
      • EdD - Curriculum and Teaching
    Master's
      • MAPsy - General Psychology
      • MEd - Curriculum and Teaching
      • MEd - General Education
      • MEd - Reading Education
      • MSOL - Criminal Justice
      • Master of Science in Computer Science
    Certificate
      • EdS - Curriculum and Teaching
      • EdS - General Education
      • EdS - Social Emotional Learning
      • EdS - Early Childhood Education
      • EdS - International Education
      • EdS - Organizational Leadership
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Masters in Psychology
      • Masters in Dispute Resolution
      • Masters in Legal Studies
      • Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Quantitative Research
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Quantitative Research)
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
    Master's
      • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
      • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • MS in Psychology: General Psychology
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor: Communications
      • BS in Psychology
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology
      • Bachelor: Business Admin
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
      • Bachelor: Accounting
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Wake Forest University - School of Professional Studies

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Communications
      • Master of Health Administration
      • Master of Health Informatics
      • Master of Public Administration
      • Masters in Project Management
      • Master of Educational Leadership
    Certificate
      • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
      • Project Management Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Penn Foster

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • A.S. Degree in Veterinary Technology
    Certificate
      • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician
      • Career Diploma - Sterile Processing
      • Career Diploma - Medical Administrative Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Pharmacy Technician
      • Medical Assistant Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    7. Fordham University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance
  • Campus Locations:
    8. Universal Technical Institute

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • Aviation Maintenance AAS
    Certificate
      • Collision Repair and Refinish Technology
      • Motorcycle Technician Specialist
      • Automotive Technology
      • Wind Power Technician
      • Marine Technician Specialist
      • Diesel Technology
  • Online Programs Available
    9. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DME: Music Education
      • LLM: International Legal Studies
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Elementary Education
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Middle Grades Education
      • EDD: Curriculum & Instruction: Secondary Education
    Master's
      • MA: Communication
      • MS: Criminal Justice
      • MA: Medical Sciences: Biopsychology
      • MA: Music Education: Music Studies
      • MBA: American Legal Studies
      • MS: Criminal Justice: Public Administration
    Certificate
      • GRAD CERT: Strategic Communication
      • GRAD CERT: Fundamentals of Communication
      • CERT: Criminal Justice
      • CERT: Journalism Education
      • GRAD CERT: Advanced Criminal Justice
      • GRAD CERT: Applied Communication Studies
  • Las Vegas, NV

    University of Nevada

Featured Schools

Full Sail University

  • Game Design Masters - Campus
  • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
  • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online

What is your highest level of education?

National University

  • DBA - General Business
  • MAPsy - General Psychology
  • EdS - Curriculum and Teaching

What is your highest level of education?

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

Which subject are you interested in?

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
  • Bachelor: Communications

What is your highest level of education?

Wake Forest University - School of Professional Studies

  • Master of Communications
  • Master of Health Administration
  • Digital Marketing and Analytics Certificate
  • Project Management Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

Penn Foster

  • A.S. Degree in Veterinary Technology
  • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
  • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician

What is your highest level of education?

Fordham University

  • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance

Are you located in the U.S.?

Universal Technical Institute

  • Aviation Maintenance AAS
  • Collision Repair and Refinish Technology
  • Motorcycle Technician Specialist

What is your highest level of education completed?