2027 Best Value General Nuclear Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
[General Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 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
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general nuclear engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Nuclear Engineering Schools
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among general nuclear engineering schools in the United States. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
A rank of #2 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $112,747. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $14,238. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Students looking for strong value in general nuclear engineering will find it at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,879 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $83,560. That is a strong return on a $24,879 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for general nuclear engineering. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $21,350. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $81,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for general nuclear engineering. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #7 for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $23,250. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $74,540. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #8 spot for general nuclear engineering value this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $59,877. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #9 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. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $73,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #10 for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,396. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $113,129. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.
Oregon State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $69,657 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,471 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. 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.
Colorado School Of Mines placed #13 among the best values for general nuclear engineering. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,521 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
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
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
