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Programs & majors brief

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# University of Nevada-Reno Majors & Programs

Updated October 1, 2026

[Overview](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/)[Cost & aid](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/similar/)

**On this page**+

## Which majors earn the most at UNR?

The largest programs at University of Nevada-Reno show a wide earnings spread four years after completion. Nursing leads the group with 168 degrees awarded and median earnings of $97,949; [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #81 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field.

Business/Commerce follows with 158 degrees awarded and median earnings of $68,419, placing it #20 nationally. Psychology, the largest program with published earnings on campus at 223 degrees awarded, reports median earnings of $51,553 and ranks #152 nationally.

Marketing sits between the two ends, with 174 degrees awarded, median earnings of $67,914, and a national rank of #87. The contrast between Nursing and Psychology shows that program choice here carries a substantial earnings difference.

### Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

-   Business**659 · 16.4%**
-   Health professions**618 · 15.4%**
-   Biological sciences**358 · 8.9%**
-   Engineering**335 · 8.4%**
-   Social sciences**298 · 7.4%**
-   Other**1,741 · 43.4%**

Find a field

Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name

61 of 61 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs

**Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 168 degrees awarded**
$97,949

**Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering 57 degrees awarded**
$96,291

**Mechanical Engineering 135 degrees awarded**
$88,460

**Accounting and Related Services 80 degrees awarded**
$85,943

**Chemical Engineering 31 degrees awarded**
$84,965

**Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering 17 degrees awarded**
$83,233

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs

Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks

| 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](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## What are the largest programs at UNR?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded

**Public Health**
353

**Psychology, General**
223

**Biology, General**
177

**Marketing**
174

**Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing**
168

**Criminal Justice and Corrections**
165

**Business/Commerce, General**
158

**Finance and Financial Management Services**
152

**Mechanical Engineering**
135

**Computer Science**
119

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. [Program data and definitions](#page-sources)

## How do UNR majors rank nationally?

### National program rankings

1.  Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management**#9**
2.  Social Work**#14**
3.  Business/Commerce, General**#20**
4.  Microbiological Sciences and Immunology**#21**
5.  International Business**#22**
6.  Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services**#27**
7.  Neurobiology and Neurosciences**#34**
8.  Communication and Media Studies**#39**
9.  Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods**#45**
10.  Journalism**#47**
11.  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.

[How Azimuth compares programs across colleges](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## Further analysis

Outcomes at University of Nevada-Reno vary sharply by field, and [Azimuth's program ranking](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)s 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](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), 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](/about/).