Programs & majors brief
University of Nevada-Reno Majors & Programs
Which majors earn the most at UNR?
61 of 61 programs shown
Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.
Compare all matching programs
| Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 168 | $97,949 | #81 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 57 | $96,291 | #97 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 135 | $88,460 | #157 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 80 | $85,943 | #79 |
| Chemical Engineering | 31 | $84,965 | #122 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering small degree count | 17 | $83,233 | — |
| Civil Engineering | 64 | $81,201 | #135 |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering small degree count | 9 | $78,079 | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 94 | $77,237 | #151 |
| International Business | 34 | $76,236 | #22 |
| Geography and Cartography small degree count | 15 | $74,864 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 152 | $72,227 | #111 |
| Mathematics | 60 | $70,681 | #75 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 58 | $68,953 | #39 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 158 | $68,419 | #20 |
| Marketing | 174 | $67,914 | #87 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 36 | $66,355 | #21 |
| Criminology small degree count | 18 | $66,273 | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 39 | $63,239 | #50 |
| Social Work | 112 | $60,320 | #14 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 59 | $59,896 | #56 |
| Biology, General | 177 | $59,715 | #140 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 61 | $59,014 | #286 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 35 | $58,002 | #56 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 90 | $57,769 | #34 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 93 | $55,532 | #45 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 43 | $55,528 | #73 |
| Political Science and Government | 89 | $55,483 | #198 |
| History | 59 | $55,230 | #78 |
| Journalism | 101 | $54,322 | #47 |
| Sociology | 48 | $52,564 | #127 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 45 | $52,501 | #107 |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | 33 | $52,481 | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 103 | $52,084 | #27 |
| Psychology, General | 223 | $51,553 | #152 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 51 | $51,433 | #76 |
| Anthropology | 35 | $48,607 | #52 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 34 | $46,171 | #9 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 77 | $45,095 | #202 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 42 | $41,074 | #149 |
| Agriculture, General small degree count | 10 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Plant Sciences small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Forestry small degree count | 18 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Computer Science | 119 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 69 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering small degree count | 14 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Materials Engineering small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Biotechnology small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Philosophy small degree count | 10 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 20 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Chemistry small degree count | 18 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Physics small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 22 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 165 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Economics | 58 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Design and Applied Arts small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Music small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Public Health | 353 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 38 | Too few graduates to report | — |
Program data and definitions · How to evaluate program rankings
What are the largest programs at UNR?
Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. Program data and definitions
How do UNR majors rank nationally?
National program rankings
- Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management#9
- Social Work#14
- Business/Commerce, General#20
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology#21
- International Business#22
- Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services#27
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences#34
- Communication and Media Studies#39
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods#45
- Journalism#47
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology#50
Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.
Further analysis
Outcomes at University of Nevada-Reno vary sharply by field, and Azimuth's program rankings evaluate four-year earnings among federally aided completers, median debt, and cohort size rather than reputation. The university has 40 programs with published earnings data, and 35 carry an Azimuth national rank.
The degree mix is broad, with Business accounting for 16.4% of bachelor's degrees awarded, followed by Health Professions at 15.4% and Biological Sciences at 8.9%. The largest program with published earnings is Psychology, at 223 degrees awarded in a year, and Azimuth ranks it #152 nationally within its field.
Nursing graduates report the highest earnings among the large programs at $97,949 four years after completion, and the program ranks #81 in its field. Award counts here are degrees conferred in one academic year, not distinct students, and program earnings cover federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled.
The best nationally ranked program is Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management, at #9 in its field and #1 in Nevada, with 34 degrees awarded. Its completers earn a median of $46,171 four years after completion.
Data & methodology
Sources and reporting periods: methodology.
Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.
Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.
Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.