The strategic plan for UNLV and UNR is for these universities to become premier urban universities focusing on research and professional schools. The addition of a third tier, the state college, facilitates UNLV in more quickly achieving its stated goals of increasing their research work and professional schools. Nevada State College will provide specific baccalaureate programming to meet our present and future needs in education. Adding a state college tier will allow the universities to concentrate on development as premier urban universities and research institutions. A state college will also allow our community colleges to continue their focus on skill training, vocational programs and junior college transfers.
State colleges are less expensive than universities.
Attendance at a state college costs the student less per credit, and because state college faculty teach eight classes a year compared to university faculty teaching five to six, it's simply cheaper for the state to educate a student at a state college than at a university. Just as important, a student can earn a baccalaureate degree in four years at Nevada State College. The Nevada State College mission statement commits to time-certain degrees. The average length of time required to obtain a baccalaureate degree from UNLV is often five to six years. The facts and figures used throughout the analysis and discussion about the Nevada State College has been provided by the University System.