North Las Vegas campus marks major expansion for Nevada State University

Nevada State University’s main campus sits jsut off Interstate 11 in eastern Henderson, near Boulder City — far from the heart of the Las Vegas Valley where most of the college’s students live.

Over nearly 25 years, the four-year institution has expanded significantly, adding programs, students and facilities across its sprawling campus.

A National Survey of Student Engagement that the university undertook, however, revealed what administrators already suspected: The Henderson location posed a significant transportation barrier for many students.

That’s about to change.

Nevada State University is opening a new campus in North Las Vegas as part of the North Las Vegas Gateway development at Lake Mead and North Las Vegas boulevards, dramatically expanding access to higher education and workforce training in the northland.

The 30,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to open in fall 2027 and will offer courses and comprehensive student support services in the city’s emerging downtown area. The Nevada Board of Regents gave its approval for the university to enter a lease agreement for a satellite campus in North Las Vegas.

In the survey, officials found that 1 in 5 students live within 5 miles of the North Las Vegas site. One student reported to surveyors enduring a two-hour commute each way to the Henderson campus.

A campus in North Las Vegas would become a prime location for additional classes, reducing commute times and increasing educational access in the city, officials said.

“Our partnership with the city of North Las Vegas is a bold investment in Nevada’s future,” Amber Lopez Lasater, acting president of Nevada State University, said in a statement. “This collaboration shows what’s possible when public institutions, local and state governments, and private partners come together to unlock innovation and opportunity for every learner and every family.”

The North Las Vegas campus, which is being developed in collaboration with Agora Realty and Management, will feature a three-story, 30,000-square-foot building.

The facility will include ultramodern classrooms, teleconferencing rooms, study spaces, faculty and staff offices, online course access hubs and tutoring facilities. Students will be able to pursue baccalaureate degrees and participate in career readiness programs, with a particular emphasis on the teacher education pipeline.

University officials said additional courses would be developed based on input from faculty, current and prospective students, the city of North Las Vegas, regional employers and community partners.

They anticipate 400 to 450 current students will take at least one class at the North Las Vegas site, which will also free up space at the Henderson campus to accommodate enrollment growth.

The project is being funded through multiple sources. The city of North Las Vegas’ redevelopment agency is providing a $7.53 million subsidy to cover the first five years of rent, while $2.5 million comes from Senate Bill 498, which was passed during this year’s legislative session to expand nursing programs. Additional funding includes a $250,000 gift from NV Energy and $500,000 from an anonymous donor.

The campus will anchor the North Las Vegas Gateway, a 19-acre mixed-use redevelopment that is being designed to attract commercial office space, retail and restaurant businesses, health care facilities, affordable housing and child care to East Lake Mead Boulevard and the surrounding area.

“This campus will fundamentally transform our downtown core and open doors to better career paths for our residents,” North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown said in a statement. “I am so proud to have Nevada State University as a partner in bringing educational opportunities to the heart of our community.”

Nevada State University, originally Nevada State College, was created by the Nevada Legislature in 1999 and opened in 2002 with a focus on nursing and education.

Starting from a single Henderson building, the institution now spans 512 acres at the foot of Mount Scorpion with multiple academic buildings, student housing and athletic facilities.

Enrollment at Nevada State has surged from 3,364 students in 2015 to more than 8,300 in 2025. The university has seen significant growth in retention and graduation rates, added Nevada’s first collegiate women’s flag football and men’s track and field teams, and is expanding to serve more residents.

“The North Las Vegas Campus for Nevada State University reflects the system’s commitment to expanding access, supporting student success, and strengthening Nevada’s workforce,” Byron Brooks, chair of the regents, said in a statement. “This collaborative effort lays the groundwork for long-term economic growth by bringing higher education opportunities closer to communities that have long been underserved.”