2027 Best Value General Nuclear Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[General Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general nuclear engineering education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general nuclear engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Nuclear Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general nuclear engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Nuclear Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in general nuclear engineering in the United States. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $14,238. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $24,879. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $83,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 14%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for general nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $22,000. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $112,747 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for general nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $21,350 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $81,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for general nuclear engineering. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,226. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned the #7 position for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $19,738. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $49,983. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $74,540. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned the #9 position for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Students borrow a median of $23,354 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $77,947. That is a strong return on a $23,354 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #10 position for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #11 position for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $73,724 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #12 for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $113,129. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon State University landed the #13 spot for general nuclear engineering value this year. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $69,657 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #14 spot for general nuclear engineering value this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $18,471. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $66,604. Set against $18,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,799 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $78,218. Set against $24,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #16 spot for general nuclear engineering value this year. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $77,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Other General Nuclear Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Nuclear Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All General Nuclear Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
