One of the most important destinations in Las Vegas, the University of Nevada Las Vegas, which is accessible via transit routes 108, 109, 201 and 202, is celebrating once again its designation as a Carnegie R1 or “Very High Research” status – a distinction awarded to only 137 universities out of nearly 4,000 institutions nationwide. This designation shows that UNLV is a national leader in research and graduate education.

“Research is central to our success at UNLV and to our ability to make real and lasting contributions to the communities we serve in Nevada and around the world,” said UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield in a recent announcement. “UNLV’s future is that of a powerhouse research university that’s tangibly linked to one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative regions. The designation reaffirms our strength and continued growth as a university and continues to open the door to new and stronger partnerships with private industry, providing more opportunities for our students at all levels.”

The prestigious ranking, the highest designation for research universities in the country, is awarded by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is based on the level of research activity conducted at a university. It helps universities to recruit and retain high-quality faculty and obtain more prestigious research grants.

UNLV first achieved the classification in 2018. Since that time, research expenditures, a key measure of university research activity, are up nearly 60 percent. Plus, UNLV established the new, fully accredited, Kerkorian School of Medicine; focused growth throughout the STEM disciplines; expanded graduate programs; and bolstered non-faculty researchers throughout the sciences and health sciences.