UNLV announced the launch of Destination Degree on October 1, 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 announcement came during a roundtable at UNLV with university leaders, representatives from education nonprofit Earn to Learn, and U.S. Rep. Susie Lee, focused on expanding pathways to degree completion and helping students overcome financial and other barriers.
"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."
The program includes five distinct pathways for students at different points in their educational journey:
Rebel Finish Line: Return and Graduate targets former UNLV students who left before earning a bachelor's degree and are approximately 30 or fewer credits from graduation.
Rebel Comeback: Learn Down Debt helps former students with an outstanding UNLV balance overcome financial barriers to re-enrollment.
Rebel Roots: Legacy Learners supports parents or guardians of current UNLV students with some college credit who do not hold a bachelor's degree.
Rebel Restore: Academic Renewal supports current and recently enrolled students whose past academic challenges may be affecting their progress.
Rebel Wraparound: There's More to Your Rebel Story connects students whose circumstances overlap with multiple programs to available support and resources.
UNLV has partnered with Earn to Learn, an education nonprofit, to expand financial support for eligible students in the Rebel Comeback and Rebel Wraparound programs. Eligible participants can contribute up to $500 annually toward their education and receive an 8-to-1 match of up to $4,000 per academic year. They also receive financial education and success coaching.
"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 CEO 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."
Applications for the fall 2027 term are available now. Students can learn more about Destination Degree at unlv.edu/admissions/destination-degree.