January 25, 2012 - UNLV is the nation's 12th most popular university, according to an analysis released this week by U.S. News & World Report.

The publication, which annually ranks the nation's top universities in a variety of categories, used the fall 2010 entering class to determine the most popular universities in the nation. The ranking is based on yield - the percentage of applicants accepted by a college who end up enrolling.

"Simply stated, this report shows that UNLV is the first choice institution for many students who apply here," said UNLV President Neal Smatresk. "I believe they recognize the high value they get in their education here, and I believe this ranking will attract yet more students. This achievement reflects the great efforts of our admissions team.

Of the 5,222 students accepted to UNLV in fall 2010, 3,115 enrolled for a yield of 59.7 percent. This places UNLV with top-ranked Harvard, Yale, BYU and Stanford on the list.

Last year UNLV ranked 25th most popular; two years ago, it was not ranked at all. Enrollment officials cite more targeted student recruitment activities as a big factor in the rankings boost. This includes school visits, travel, electronic communication and an enhanced orientation schedule that highlights campus resources and student life opportunities.

"We work to identify students who will be successful and thrive at UNLV, and then maintain contact with them throughout their college search," said Luke Schultheis, associate vice president for enrollment and student services. "As we develop relationships with potential students, they develop a sense of trust and commitment to UNLV."

Related Link: U.S. News & World Report 2012 list of the most popular national universities