by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 30 U.S. colleges awarded 963 degrees and certificates in General Nuclear Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 46% of graduates. College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best General 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.
Studying General Nuclear Engineering involves the study of Nuclear Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Systems For Controlling And Manipulating Nuclear Energy, Including Nuclear Power Plant Design, Fission Reactor Design, Fusion Reactor Design, Reactor Control And Safety Systems Design, Power Transfer Systems, Containment Vessels And Structures Design; And The Analysis Of Related Engineering Problems Such As Fission And Fusion Processes, Human And Environmental Factors, Construction, And Operational Considerations. Examples: [Nuclear Reactor Engineering], [Nuclear Fuels], [Nuclear Power Engineering], [Nuclear Radiation And Shielding], [Nuclear Instrumentation And Measurement].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, general nuclear engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 963 degrees awarded annually. 30 colleges award general 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 general 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 General Nuclear Engineering Schools ranking, including 16 for bachelor’s degrees, 13 for master’s degrees and 6 for doctorates. It also ranks general nuclear engineering schools within 14 states. In all, 30 colleges offer general nuclear engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Nuclear Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general nuclear engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 445 of the 963 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general 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.
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How long a general 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 general 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 General 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 Ship Construction Teacher, Electronics Teacher, Ship Design Teacher and Research Professor.
The occupation related to general 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% |
General 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 general 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
