UNLV at No. 10 on U.S. News list of most diverse universities

By Aida Ahmed

Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 | 10:21 a.m.

UNLV has made an appearance on a national list of college rankings for its diverse student population.

According to U.S. News and World Report, UNLV ranks No. 10 for campus ethnic diversity.

U.S. News and World Report draws data from each institution’s 2010-2011 school year student body, factoring in the total population of minority students while leaving out international students.

According to the U.S. News website, the categories used in calculations include blacks who are non-Hispanic, Hispanics, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, whites who are not Hispanic and multiracial students. Students who didn't identify themselves as members of one of the groups were classified as whites who are non-Hispanic. The U.S. News formula produces a diversity index that ranges from 0.0, meaning an institution is less diverse, to 1.0, which means a more diverse student population.

UNLV holds a 0.69 on the diversity index. The most diverse university is the Rutgers campus in Newark, N.J., with a 0.76 on the diversity index. Next on the list are the University of Houston at 0.75, St. John's University at 0.73 and Stanford University at 0.72.

The report aims to identify universities where students are most likely to encounter undergraduates from racial or ethnic groups different from their own.

According to UNLV, almost half of the 2010 undergraduate student body categorizes itself as being part of a racial or ethnic minority group. Hispanics make up the largest undergraduate minority student group with close to 18 percent enrollment.

“This is certainly welcome news that our campus population is growing into a more accurate reflection of our city,” said Luis Valera, UNLV's interim vice president of diversity initiatives and government relations, in a statement. “This ranking serves as a message about what is going to be expected of UNLV in the coming years as we look to serve minority students effectively and continue to deliver a positive educational experience.”