In the Fall 2026 semester, there was significant growth with full time online students and online credit hour enrollment overall through Nevada Online.

This is a broader shift in higher education as students seek learning opportunities that fit their personal, professional and geographic circumstances. Many students combine in-person and online courses – the amount of online credit hours has increased this year to more than 100,000, a nearly 28% jump since Fall 2025.  

“The growth in fully online learners is a testament that the University is meeting the learners where they want to be met,” said Vice Provost for Online Learning Carley Ries. “We are serving diverse audiences with certificates and degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Some learners are time and place-bound; we are removing those barriers and educating our community.”

"Some learners are time and place-bound; we are removing those barriers and educating our community.”

While the largest growth for Nevada Online has been for degrees at the undergraduate level, there has been increased enrollment at the graduate level as well, including in the Masters in Social Work and the Psychology MS online programs. Other rapidly growing online programs include the certificate programs, many in the health care industry. 

Catherine Doubek was working on full time on campus and taking a full load of on-campus classes when she joined Nevada Online’s graduate certificate program for donor management and transplant science.

“I wanted to explore my field, but I didn’t know where to start,” she said.  “My courses renewed by passion for public health and enhanced my understanding of the field.”

The flexibility of Nevada Online, she said, allowed her to continue on-campus classes and work responsibilities, while studying on a schedule that worked for her.

Increase in offerings, first AI certificate

The enrollment gains come as Nevada Online continues to expand its academic offerings. This fall, Nevada Online launched many new courses, including NVAI 100, the first course in GEN AI, a 9-credit undergraduate certificate focused on artificial intelligence. The three-course certificate isn’t geared toward one field: students from a wide range of disciplines enrolled this fall. While NVAI 100 focuses on the fundamentals of generative AI, NVAI 310 examines ethical, social and legal implications of AI systems and NVAI 300 is geared toward AI in practice.

"Artificial intelligence is reshaping nearly every profession, and higher education has an important role to play in preparing students for that future."

GEN AI was developed through a collaboration between Nevada Online and Lindsay Munro, teaching professor in the department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology and faculty liaison for academic standards.

"Artificial intelligence is reshaping nearly every profession, and higher education has an important role to play in preparing students for that future," Munro said. “This certificate gives students the opportunity to gain AI literacy skills.”

The AI certificate is designed to provide students with practical knowledge, applied skills, and ethical use that can complement a variety of degree programs and career paths. It is part of the University’s Pack AI initiative.

Rapid growth since 2024

Nevada Online launched in 2024 to expand access to high-quality online education while supporting faculty in the development of engaging digital courses. In an interview during that time, Ries described the initiative as a way to provide flexible educational opportunities for students who are unable to attend courses on campus because of work, family or geographic constraints.

"The increase in enrollment represents the quality of education we are developing with our faculty and the Nevada Online design team."

Nevada Online also supports faculty via course design, instructional technology, student engagement and multimedia development. These efforts bring many more academic programs into an online format.

"The increase in enrollment represents the quality of education we are developing with our faculty and the Nevada Online design team,” Ries said. “Together, they take the knowledge of our subject matter experts and combine that with our design teams to offer a quality, engaging and technologically advanced experience. Students are smart, but sometimes impatient, and we must engage them immediately to hold their attention.”

Nevada Online, Orvis School of Nursing tackle state’s nursing shortage

The growth of Nevada Online also reflects the University's commitment to serving learners across the state, and Orvis School of Nursing’s action to address the nursing shortage. Nevada Online’s Nursing program is ranked #5 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Online Programs for its Online Master of Science in Nursing program.

“We have students in our program from Elko, from Pahrump, and other rural towns in the state. If not for an online program, our educational opportunities would not be available to them,” said Lisa Thomas, faculty member and the RN to BSN track leader for Nevada Online. “Most of our students are working full time, so their education is available to them when they’re available to study.”

Nevada Online in Nevada and abroad

And it’s not just Nevada’s rural towns or metropolitan areas – Nevada Online students reside in other countries. Stella Nyagwencha is an assistant professor of psychology at the United States International University-Africa in Nairobi and studying for her master of science degree in behavioral analysis through Nevada Online. She recently came to the University of Nevada, Reno campus to finish her practicum, as part of the Kahlel Program, as it was not an option in Nairobi. (Read Stella’s story here.)

University Executive Vice President and Provost Jeff Thompson said the enrollment increase shows alignment with the University's mission.

"As Nevada's flagship land-grant institution, we have a responsibility to expand access to education and opportunity,” he said. “The growth of Nevada Online shows that we are meeting Nevadans where they are and creating pathways that allow more students to achieve their educational goals while strengthening our workforce and communities."

Combining in-person with online

Nevada Online's steady increase underscores the growing role online education plays in our world today. Many students combine online and in-person coursework, while others complete their studies entirely online. The format allows learners to continue their education while managing careers, military service, family and other commitments.

For Ries, the enrollment growth represents more than a number.

“This increase indicates that we are offering the modality students want and may need in order to finish, or begin, their educational journey,” Ries said.

As Nevada Online continues to expand, University leaders say the goal remains the same: provide students with access to a high-quality University of Nevada education, regardless of where they live or where life takes them.