by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 30 U.S. colleges awarded 963 degrees and certificates in Nuclear Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 46% of graduates. College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best Nuclear Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $74,651 one year after completing, rising to $101,687 after four years.
Environmental concerns and the need to find new forms of energy are important issues for most people. With a degree in Nuclear Engineering, you could make discoveries with the potential to change the world.
Nuclear Engineering students take classes in applied mathematics, physics, nuclear thermal-hydraulics, radiation, reactor materials, thermonuclear fusion, and energy conversion among others to learn how to harness nuclear energy for power and use radiation to make medical advances. Since the nuclear engineering field is fairly new and quickly advancing, there are endless possibilities to where this degree may lead.
A degree in Nuclear Engineering explores Nuclear Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., nuclear engineering draws strong interest, with 963 degrees awarded annually. 30 colleges award nuclear engineering degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 102.
By level, the 963 awards include 445 bachelor’s degrees, 348 master’s degrees and 153 doctorates.
Women earned 20% of nuclear engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (189 of 963). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (623) and Hispanic or Latino (100), and international students earned 99.
College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best Nuclear Engineering Schools ranking, including 16 for bachelor’s degrees, 13 for master’s degrees and 6 for doctorates. It also ranks nuclear engineering schools within 14 states. In all, 30 colleges offer nuclear engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Nuclear Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common nuclear engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 445 of the 963 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to nuclear engineering call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Nuclear Engineering is a field that is grounded in mathematics and science. A strong background in these fields will aid students as they take more advanced classes while earning their degree. It is also necessary that students have strong critical thinking and problem solving skills. When working with nuclear power, small errors may be dangerous, so you must be able to foresee any issues and pay close attention to detail.
Many nuclear engineers work full time at nuclear power plants, medical research labs, scientific and technical consulting services, or for the federal government. Most of these occupations allow engineers to work in a typical office setting. According to current professionals, overtime is common in the Nuclear Engineering profession.
When looking for a job after graduation, many employers value relevant experience. Internships or schools with cooperative-education engineering programs will allow students to learn Nuclear Engineering skills both in the classroom and in a hands-on environment.
Although a bachelor's degree will allow graduates to work within the field, you will need to obtain your master's if you wish to go into research and development.
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How long a nuclear engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 445 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 348 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 153 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to nuclear engineering, at 39.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 39.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 19.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.6% |
| Master’s degree | 12.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.3% |
| First professional degree | 1.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Nuclear Engineering, with an average median salary of $101,240; the strongest outlook belongs to Architectural and Engineering Managers, at 9.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Geological Engineering Teacher, Ceramic Engineering Professor, Mechanical Drawing Teacher and Ship Design Teacher.
The Nuclear Engineering field is growing at an average rate meaning graduates should not have a problem finding a job after graduation. Those will previous experience through internships or cooperative-education engineering programs will be more attractive to employers and may have an easier time being hired.
The occupation related to nuclear engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Nuclear Engineers | 75,904 | -3.5% |
Nuclear Engineering graduates earn a median $74,651 one year after completing their program, $101,687 after four years and $101,195 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $74,651 |
| 4 years | $101,687 |
| 5 years | $101,195 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to nuclear engineering is Nuclear Engineers, with a median salary of $134,531.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nuclear Engineers | $134,531 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
Nuclear Engineering includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Nuclear Engineering (963). It has 40 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 202,072 degrees a year; the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nuclear Engineering | 963 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 43,874 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 27,513 |
| Computer Engineering | 21,335 |
| Civil Engineering | 19,856 |
| Engineering, General | 14,789 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 14,592 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,559 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 10,170 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,023 |
| Systems Engineering | 4,489 |
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