FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2025
Contact: Bryan Wachter (775) 771-8969 | Bryan@RANNV.org
Nevada Families Projected to Spend $522.4
Million on Back-to-School and College in 2025 Back-to-College Spending Sets Record
As Nevada students sharpen pencils and prep for anotheracademicyear, theirfamilies are projected to spend a combined $522.4 million gearingup learnersfromkindergarten through college, according to the RetailAssociationofNevada (RAN). Nationwide, consumers are expected to spend $128.2 billion, according to arecent survey bythe National Retail Federation (NRF).
"Nevada families are shopping smarter this year—starting early,watchingprices, and stretching budgets to cover essentials," said Bryan Wachter,President of the Retail Association of Nevada. "Even with economic uncertainty,theback-to-schoolseason remains a vital moment for both householdsand retailers,and storesacrossthestate are stepping up to deliver value and support."
Consumers are shopping earlier this yeardue to ongoingeconomicuncertainty, according to the NRF. This pattern started in 2020withpandemic-related disruptions, continued through 2021 with supply chain issues, persistedin 2022due to inflation, andis accelerating this year amid concerns over rising prices from tariffs. Overtwo-thirds of consumers(67 percent) began their back-to-school shopping byearlyJuly,thehighestpercentage ever recorded by the NRF survey, up from 55 percent in 2023 and2024.
Nationally, families with K-12 students are projectedtospend atotal of $39.4 billionthis year, a 1.5 percent increase from last year. On average,households willspend about $857, down 2.0 percent from last year’s $875.
Nevada families preparing K-12 students for school are expected to spend $361.9 million, a decrease of 1.9 percent compared to last year. Despite the overall dip in spending, electronics continue to top shopping lists, accounting for about a third of total spendingwith an estimated $124.9 million in expenditures. Clothing and accessories are next at $105.3 million, followed by shoes ($71.4 million), and school supplies ($60.7 million).
Across the nation, college-related spending is expected to total $88.8 billion, up 2.5 percent from last year. On average, households will spend around $1,326 per college student,a 5.9 percent annual decline.
Meanwhile, college students in Nevada will push back-to-school spending to record highs, with projections reaching $160.5 million – up 2.8 percent compared to last year due torising enrollment. Electronics lead the way among spending categories, with total expenditures projected at $37.5 million. Dorm and apartment furnishings followed ($23.2 million), along with clothing and accessories ($20.1 million), food and snacks ($17.0 million), and personal care items ($14.3 million).
Online shopping remains the favored choice for both K-12 (55 percent) and college shoppers (48 percent). Other popular shopping locations for K-12 families include department stores (48 percent), discount stores (47 percent), and clothing stores (41 percent). College families similarly favor discount stores (36 percent), department stores(35 percent), and college bookstores (27 percent).
Schools in Clark County and Washoe County are set to begin classes on Monday, August 11, while the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) kick off the academic year on Monday, August 25.
