Colleges & Universities
Public, Coed
Institution
220
Programs Offered
30,660
Student Population
$1.59 billion
Economic Impact
Since its first classes were held in 1957, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has transformed from a small branch campus into a thriving urban public research university and an indispensable resource for one of the country’s fastest-growing and most enterprising cities.
UNLV is a public institution with rigorous educational programs that is immersed in innovative research, scholarship, and creative activities. UNLV holds the nation’s highest recognition for both research and community engagement from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching – the gold standard for research institutions. These distinctions underscore UNLV’s vision to be one of the nation’s premier public universities for research, education, and community impact.
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, UNLV is annually ranked as one of the nation’s most diverse for undergraduates. The university is committed to equity and inclusion throughout its operations and meets federal Minority Serving Institution requirements as an Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, and as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
UNLV is home to Nevada’s only law and dental schools, a top-ranked nursing school, and the university’s Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine will graduate its third cohort of future physicians in 2023.
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS
Established: 1957
Leadership: Keith E. Whitfield, Ph.D., President
Employees: 4,119 (Fall 2022)
Annual budget: $792 million (FY22)
Program Offerings: Undergraduate, Graduate, Professional Education, and Research
Website: unlv.edu
Mission
As a minority-serving institution rich with diversity and committed to equity, UNLV provides access to world class educational experiences that are responsive to the needs of our students and stakeholders; engages in groundbreaking research, scholarship, professional, and creative activities that have impact and cross boundaries; and offers high value, cutting-edge interdisciplinary physical and mental health care to support our community.
We create value for the individuals and communities we serve by fostering a climate of innovation, stimulating economic diversification and workforce development, promoting social justice and inclusion of all voices, and enriching cultural vitality.
Business & Economic Development
Partnerships drive impact in our community and throughout Nevada. UNLV’s research and economic development efforts are growing quickly, and the university puts its expertise to work through projects and partnerships that support the state’s economic renaissance.
This includes leveraging research and workforce strength to spark connections between higher education and industry that advance regional economic development. UNLV and its partners are solving challenges and creating opportunities in technology, sports science, healthcare, hospitality, and entertainment that support a diverse and globally competitive Nevada economy.
Additionally, UNLV’s 140,000-plus graduates make a difference every day as engineers, scientists, educators, health professionals, artists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. Their impact can be felt throughout the Silver State, where UNLV alumni overwhelmingly choose to remain after graduation.
To keep pace with the region’s explosive growth, UNLV has more than 200 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. They are fueling Nevada’s workforce and anticipating future growth through innovative programs in entertainment engineering, cybersecurity, sport management, neuroscience, and more.
Recent Highlights
Geoscientists Libby Hausrath and Arya Udry are part of an elite group working with NASA’s Mars science team. They’re helping to identify magmatic rocks on the Martian surface and, ultimately, which soils and rocks will be the first to make the trek back to Earth. UNLV is one of just two universities nationwide with multiple participating scientists.
A human-robot avatar system developed by UNLV engineers may one day make it possible to transport the skills – and physical presence – of doctors and first responders directly to at-risk communities almost anywhere in the world. UNLV’s current design pairs wearable technology with a humanoid robot, enabling the user to walk, climb, see, sense, and even feel anything the robot is engaging with.
UNLV is tackling the region’s teacher shortage by empowering school support staff and instructional aides to make the transition to a full-time teaching career. The Paraprofessional Pathways Project, a partnership with Clark County School District and the State of Nevada, gives hundreds of participants the extra boost they need to earn their credentials in as little as one year.
180
Degrees & Certifications
30,177
Student Population
70
Academic Programs
As the largest and most ethnically diverse college in Nevada, the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) provides affordable and collaborative postsecondary education and workforce training. CSN is a fully accredited institution offering hundreds of degrees and certificates in more than 70 academic programs—with 26 degrees and certificates available entirely online. We’re also extremely accessible with three main campuses in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson, as well as multiple sites and centers throughout the region.
Keeping things personal is also something we take great pride in. Our student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1 ensures that students get the most out of their education. Outside the classroom, we offer a variety of clubs, activities and organizations to keep students engaged and connected. If sports are your thing, our baseball team is frequently a contender and has even taken home a national championship. Our CSN Coyotes are also proudly represented in softball, soccer, basketball and volleyball to round out our growing athletics department.
COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
Leadership: Dr. Frederico Zaragoza, President
Employees: 2,678
Annual budget: $143 million
Program Offerings: Associate’s, Bachelor’s
Campuses: Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson
Website: csn.edu
Mission & Vision
Mission
The College of Southern Nevada empowers our students and communities to achieve, succeed, and prosper.
Vision
The College of Southern Nevada is recognized as a leader among community colleges in fostering student success, shared governance, and performance excellence.
Values
Integrity: We place fairness, honesty, transparency, and trust at the center of all decisions, policies, and operations.
Lifelong Learning: We foster curious minds, continuous learning, and broad-based education to enhance creative thinking, problem-solving, innovation, and principled leadership.
Excellence: We achieve and surpass our goals through continuous performance improvement and commitment to — and quality in — teaching, learning, scholarship, service, and administration.
Academic Freedom: We embrace freedom of thought and speech in support of teaching, learning, communication, shared governance, and responsible civic engagement.
Diversity: We value the integration of different backgrounds and perspectives among students, faculty, staff, and community members as a way to collaborate and promote creativity, innovation, and growth.
Economic Development
CSN’s innovative Division of Workforce and Economic Development provides workforce and customized business/industry training. It is also home to the largest adult literacy and language program in the state, helping thousands of Southern Nevadans earn their high school equivalency certificate (formerly known as the GED) and learn the English language.
2002
Established
60
Majors and Minors
7,162
Student Population
Nevada State University is one of the fastest growing colleges in the country and the fastest growing in Nevada. It is Nevada’s only four-year institution with a teaching mission, where we prioritize learning and excellence in teaching. Our purpose is to serve a “new majority” of students entering higher education today, who will ultimately expand our middle class and grow our economy. We define the “new majority” as first-generation students, adult learners, students of color, Dreamers, immigrants, and anyone looking for opportunities in high-skilled, middle-income jobs.
NEVADA STATE UNIVERSITY
Leadership: Dr. DeRionne Pollard, President
Employees: 1,134
Annual budget: $58.4 million (2022-23)
Program Offerings: Associate’s, Bachelor’s
Campuses: Henderson
Website: nsc.edu
Mission
At Nevada State University, excellence fosters opportunity. Excellence in teaching leads to innovative, technology-rich learning opportunities that promote the acquisition of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills. Quality, affordable degree programs open doors to career success and an enhanced quality of life for a diverse population of students. Our graduates, in turn, foster the greatest opportunity – the promise of a stronger community and a better future for all of Nevada.
Program Offerings
Nevada State offers more than 60 high demand majors and minors relevant to the needs of the Nevada. Each program is taught by world-class instructors with a focus on innovation, technology, and career development. Programs are offered online, on-site, and as a hybrid of both. Popular programs include nursing, education, criminal justice, business administration, visual media, biology, speech pathology, and psychology.
The new Glenn and Ande Christenson School of Education Building is changing the face of education in Southern Nevada by providing an innovative place to prepare teachers for Nevada’s early childhood to grade 12 schools. Nevada State’s traditionally small classes are facilitated by faculty who serve as mentors and guides not only in the classroom, but in life.
Celebrating Diversity
Nevada State is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which has commended Nevada State for remaining true to its mission during a time of unprecedented growth while ensuring a climate that prioritizes and promotes the success of its diverse student body. 72 percent of our students come from culturally diverse backgrounds. Nevada State also has been identified nationally as a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI).
An Innovative Approach to Education
University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. With 40 years of experience offering flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life® University of Phoenix helps students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives.
Developed by faculty who are practitioners in their field, our curriculum integrates academic theory, lifelong learning, and professional practice – and is designed to support the needs of adult learners. We strive to help students develop relevant skills that can be easily applied to their current work and life experiences. Our convenient classes, offered online, make going back to school a real option for working adults. Access your class online, study on your own schedule and earn your degree.
Leadership: Chris Lynne, President
Total enrollment: 73,300
Local enrollment: 1,100
Southern Nevada Alumni: 25,000+
Program Offerings: Certificate, Associates, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral
Colleges: College of Business Online, Teacher’s College Online, College of Information Technology Online, College of Health Professions Online
Website: phoenix.edu
WGU Nevada was established in 2015 as a partnership between Western Governors University and the state of Nevada with a unique mission to help Nevadans obtain a quality education. When WGU was established in 1997, the founding governors realized that technology, the internet, and a new model of competency-based education could transform higher education by creating new opportunities for working adults and underserved, non-traditional audiences.
The mission of WGU Nevada is to expand access to affordable higher education for Nevada residents through online, competency-based programs that address key workforce needs.
WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY, NEVADA
Leadership: Richard Benbow, VP WGU West Region & Sharon Allen, Sr. Strategic Partnerships Manager-Nevada
Enrolled: 3,000+
Program Offerings: WGU Certifications Bachelor’s, Master’s
Colleges: College of Business, School of Education, College of Information Technology, Leavitt School of Health
Campuses: Online
Website: https://www.wgu.edu/nevada.html
Medical Programs
KIRK KERKORIAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT UNLV
Leadership: Marc J. Kahn, Dean
Program Offerings: Residency programs
Campuses: Las Vegas
Website: unlv.edu/medicine
Located in the Las Vegas Medical District, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV graduated its first class of students in May of 2021. Fully accredited, the school currently has 246 medical students, 150 faculty physicians, and more than 300 medical residents and fellows.
With a recently completed medical education building, including state-of-the-art medical classrooms and simulation center, the school continues to grow. With its group practice, UNLV Health, which provides care to more than 19,000 patients per month, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV is transforming healthcare in Southern Nevada.
Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine
Photo By: Josh Hawkins UNLV
TOURO UNIVERSITY NEVADA
Leadership: Dr. Alan Kadish, President
Employees: 341
Opened: 2004
Program Offerings: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Master of Science in Medical Health Sciences (MHS), Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS), Bachelor of Science in Nursing for RN’s (RN-BSN), Master in Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT), Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and Master of Education (MEd), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees, and a post-master’s certificate in family nurse practitioner studies
Campuses: Henderson
Website: tun.touro.edu
As the largest medical school in the State of Nevada, Touro University Nevada continues to lead the way in addressing the healthcare provider shortage in Southern Nevada.
Touro receives thousands of admission applications for its competitive programs and places nearly 100 percent of Touro medical students in post-graduation residency programs. Touro is uniquely positioned to provide Nevada’s future healthcare providers and educators with a collaborative, team-based, and community-focused education that serves the citizens of the State of Nevada now and well into the future.
ROSEMAN UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Leadership: Dr. Renee E. Coffman, BS Pharm, PhD, President and Cofounder
Employees: 450
Founded: 1999
Annual Budget: $110M
Economic Impact: $143.4M
Program Offerings: College of Dental Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, College of Graduate Studies
Unique Value: Roseman courses are unique in that they are offered on a block style, allowing students to focus on one subject at a time, rather than multiple concurrent courses in a quarter or semester system.
Campuses: Henderson, Summerlin
Website: roseman.edu
Founded in Henderson, Nevada in 1999, Roseman University of Health Sciences is a non-profit, private institution of higher learning training the next generation of undergraduate and graduate-level healthcare professionals that serve, collaborate, and set new standards in their communities and within their professions. With campuses in Henderson and Summerlin (Las Vegas), Nevada, and South Jordan, Utah, the University is comprised of the College of Dental Medicine, offering an Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics residency and Doctor of Dental Medicine program; College of Pharmacy, offering a Doctor of Pharmacy; College of Nursing, offering an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner; and College of Graduate Studies offering a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. Roseman University of Health Sciences will also offer a Doctor of Medicine through its College of Medicine once it becomes accredited. More than 7,500 Roseman graduates are caring for patients, conducting research, and engaged in public health and policy in Nevada, Utah, and across the country. Roseman University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. www.roseman.edu
CSN RALPH AND BETTY ENGELSTAD SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Program Offerings: Department of Nursing offers Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Registered Nurse (RN) and Nursing (RN). The Dental Sciences, Diagnostic Evaluation & Rehabilitation Services Department offers programs for Radiation Therapy Technology, Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Technician, Ophthalmic Technician, and Physical Therapy Assistant. The Department of Health Related Professions offers programs in Cardiorespiratory Sciences, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Health Information Technology, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technology, and Veterinary Technology.
Unique Value: The school has affiliations with more than 350 local businesses and organizations where students can apply their skills in hospitals, schools, private clinics and other real-life work settings. Those relationships help potential employers get to know students, and offer many a job pathway upon graduation.
Website: csn.edu/health-sciences
LEAVITT SCHOOL OF HEALTH
Unique Value: Highly flexible programs at a very affordable price allow students to enter and upskill within the dynamic healthcare industry.
Accreditation: The bachelor’s and master’s nursing degree programs at WGU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036, 202-887-6791). Paired with WGU’s university-wide accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), these accreditations assure your degree will be highly respected.
College of Health Professions Degree Programs
Bachelor’s Programs:
• B.S. Nursing (RN to BSN)*• B.S. Health Information Management• B.S. Health and Human Services•B.S. Business Administration–Healthcare Management (from the College of Business)
Master’s Programs:
• M.S. Nursing–Education (RN to MSN)• M.S. Nursing–Education (BSN to MSN)• M.S. Nursing–Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN to MSN)*• M.S. Nursing–Leadership and Management (RN to MSN)• M.S. Nursing–Leadership and Management (BSN to MSN)• M.S. Nursing–Nursing Informatics (RN to MSN)• M.S. Nursing–Nursing Informatics (BSN to MSN)• M.S. Nursing–Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN to MSN)• Master of Health Leadership• MBA Healthcare Management (from the College of Business)
Post-Master’s Certificates:
• PMC in Nursing–Education• PMC in Nursing–Leadership and Management
*Program only available in select areas.