UNLV today announced the launch of Destination Degree, an initiative designed to help current and former students, as well as parents of current students, complete a bachelor’s degree at the university.
The initiative was announced on Oct. 1 during a roundtable at UNLV with university leaders, representatives from education non-profit Earn to Learn, and U.S. Rep. Susie Lee focused on expanding pathways to degree completion and helping students overcome financial and other barriers to earning a degree.
Whether students are returning after time away, working through financial or academic challenges, balancing college with work and family, or ready to start their own degree, Destination Degree helps them explore their options and connect with support that fits their goals.
“Earning a college degree is rarely a straight path, and we know that life circumstances can make it difficult for students to continue or return to school,” said Barb Roberts, associate vice president for enrollment management at UNLV. “Destination Degree is about meeting students where they are, helping them navigate the barriers in front of them, and making sure they know there is still a way forward to a UNLV degree.”
Destination Degree includes several programs designed to support students at different points in their educational journeys:
- Rebel Finish Line: Return and Graduate helps former UNLV students who left before earning a bachelor’s degree and are approximately 30 or fewer credits from graduation return and take the next steps toward completing their degree.
- Rebel Comeback: Learn Down Debt helps former students with an outstanding UNLV balance overcome financial barriers to re-enrollment as they work toward completing their bachelor’s degree.
- Rebel Roots: Legacy Learners helps parents or guardians of current UNLV students with some college credit who do not already hold a bachelor’s degree explore starting their own degree at UNLV.
- Rebel Restore: Academic Renewal supports current and recently enrolled students whose past academic challenges may be affecting their progress toward completing a bachelor’s degree.
- Rebel Wraparound: There’s More to Your Rebel Story connects students whose circumstances overlap with multiple Destination Degree programs to the range of support and resources available to them.
Partnership with Earn to Learn
Through its partnership with Earn to Learn, UNLV is expanding financial support for eligible students participating in two Destination Degree programs: Rebel Comeback and Rebel Wraparound.
Eligible students in these two programs can contribute up to $500 annually toward their education and receive an 8-to-1 match of up to $4,000 per academic year. Participants also receive financial education and success coaching to help them stay on track toward completing their degrees.
“The launch of Destination Degree with UNLV marks an exciting new chapter in Earn to Learn’s more than a decade of helping students overcome financial barriers to education,” said Kate Hoffman, founder and chief executive officer of Earn to Learn. “What makes this partnership especially innovative is UNLV’s first-of-its-kind approach within Earn to Learn’s partnerships to address past-due institutional debt as part of the pathway back to college. By helping students address past-due balances, repair their credit, and access financial education, financial support, and success coaching as they return to the classroom, we can create a pathway not only to degree completion, but to greater financial stability, career opportunity, and economic mobility.”
Taking the Next Step
Destination Degree helps students understand their options, navigate next steps, and connect with the academic, financial, and enrollment support they may need to move forward.
For those ready to start or return to UNLV, applications for the fall 2027 term are available now. Learn more about Destination Degree and find your way forward at unlv.edu/admissions/destination-degree.
