UNLV Rebel pride will hit an all-time high Aug. 29 as one of the largest freshman classes in university history joins returning students for the start of the fall semester.

UNLV enrollment is expected to top 30,000 students this fall, which includes more than 4,300 first-time, first-year students — among the most ever for UNLV. 

• Most new UNLV students are Nevada residents (82%), with California and Hawaii comprising the most out-of-state students.
• Over 200 newly admitted student veterans and military family members are expected this fall, joining a UNLV community of more than 1,850.
• An expanded Tropicana Parking Garage opens just prior to the start of classes, adding about 760 more spaces near the Thomas & Mack Center. A new surface lot across from the Student Union, on Maryland Parkway with access to Del Mar Street, opened this spring and added around 100 centrally located spaces for students, faculty, and staff.

As the nation continues to ease out of pandemic restrictions, UNLV will host roughly 75% of classes in-person, with around 25% delivered remotely. New programs this fall include dual degrees for Master of Public Health/M.D. and MBA/Master of Healthcare Administration.

But the road to academic success at UNLV stretches beyond the classroom. For both first-time and returning students, the university is hosting a smorgasbord of events — from the inspirational TED-like talks of UNLV Creates and a Welcome Day BBQ to the home football opener, campus club fair, and more — geared at steering students toward successful college careers by entrenching them in school spirit and acclimating them to campus life. 

Media interested in attending the events are asked to coordinate with the UNLV Office of Media Relations at mediarelations@unlv.edu or (702) 895-3102.

For a complete list of events, visit the UNLV calendar, along with the campus map page for additional location details. 

Residence Hall Move-In

When: Tuesday, Aug. 23 to Thursday, Aug. 25

Where: Dayton Community, South Complex, Upper Class Complex and Tonopah Community

On-campus residence halls will be at capacity as about 1,500 new and returning students move in. COVID-19 safety protocols, such as sanitation stations and setting aside a portion of rooms to meet demand for single occupancy requests, remain in place. 

Through a new collaboration with CAPS (Student Counseling & Psychological Services), two in-house counselors will be stationed in the residence halls to offer mental/physical health resources and programming.

Rebel Welcome Day/UNLV Creates 

When: Friday, Aug. 26. Welcome Day, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. & UNLV Creates, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. 

Where: Thomas & Mack Center (Creates)

Rebel Welcome Day jumpstarts students’ college careers with live music, a barbecue, guided campus tours, information booths about jobs and campus resources, an ice cream social, an outdoor movie night, bookstore discounts and giveaways, and more designed to help them learn more about UNLV and campus life programs. The happenings take place at Pida Plaza, Lied Library, and other locations around campus.

The capstone activity is UNLV Creates, a TEDx-like event at the Thomas & Mack Center featuring motivational messages from community members. New students: Don't forget to sign up for your free tickets. Freshmen at the mid-morning event also receive Rebel Cords and make a pledge to graduate.

UNLV Rebel Football Home Opener vs. Idaho State 

When: Saturday, Aug. 27, 12:30 p.m. 

Where: Allegiant Stadium 

Join UNLV head football coach Marcus Arroyo and the Rebels as they host their first home game of the season. The Rebels take on Idaho State University in the first of six scheduled home games this season. Learn more about the Rebels’ 2022 schedule at unlvrebels.com

UNLV Fall Semester Begins

When: Monday, Aug. 29 

Where: UNLV Main Campus

Throughout the day, several hundred UNLV staff and student volunteers will operate “ask me” booths to answer student questions. The booths will be located at the Pida Plaza (near the Student Union), Alta Ham Fine Arts Building, Lied Library, and the Tropicana Parking Garage. 

26th Annual Premier UNLV 

When: Thursday, Sept. 1, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. 

Where: Intramural Field, corner of University Center Drive and Harmon Avenue 

An annual tradition featuring fireworks, music, food, and the formation of a giant illuminated “UNLV” created by hundreds of UNLV students and alumni holding lights.