Regents to Consider Multi Year Tuition and Fee Increases at UNR and UNLV

Tuition and mandatory fees for students at University of Nevada, Reno and University of Nevada, Las Vegas could rise over the next several academic years as the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents prepares to review and potentially approve a multi year fee proposal at its meeting on Friday.

Materials prepared for the board state that the proposed increases are intended to address ongoing budget pressures, rising operational costs, and the expiration of temporary funding approved by lawmakers in recent sessions. NSHE officials note that while stabilization funding provided under AB568 helped offset short term needs, long term obligations such as salaries, employee benefits, deferred maintenance, and student support services extend beyond the life of that funding.

The proposal presents two primary paths. One option would implement fee increases beginning in the 2026–27 academic year, starting with a 3 percent increase, followed by 4 percent the next year and 5 percent in 2028–29. These increases would be in addition to annual adjustments tied to inflation through the Higher Education Price Index. A second option would delay the start until fall 2027, with a 7 percent increase that year and a 5 percent increase the following year, resulting in a similar overall cost by 2028–29.

NSHE estimates that if the increases are adopted, the additional revenue would help replace expiring bridge funding and support previously unfunded salary commitments. Officials say the funding would help maintain approximately 317 positions system wide, including faculty, advisors, and classified staff. Without additional revenue, the system warns those roles could be at risk, potentially leading to reductions in campus services.

The presentation also addresses concerns about administrative staffing, indicating that personnel levels at NSHE institutions remain below those of comparable universities nationwide and are concentrated in instructional and student support functions rather than executive positions.

Affordability is expected to be a central topic during the meeting. According to NSHE data, even with the proposed increases, tuition and fees at UNR and UNLV would remain below national and regional averages. Net tuition for undergraduate Nevada residents, after financial aid, averages slightly more than $3,500 per year. System officials also highlighted student access funds, noting that more than 29,000 students received assistance through those programs in the most recent year.

Regents are scheduled to review enrollment data showing that previous fee increases have not consistently resulted in enrollment declines, though officials acknowledged that any increase can pose challenges for students and families. No final decision has been made, and the board may revise the proposal, adjust access funding, or delay implementation before taking a vote. Any approved changes would be phased in and would not take effect immediately.

Source. KSNV.