[Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for nuclear engineering students.
Finding the Best Value Nuclear Engineering School for You
Where you study nuclear engineering affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for 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. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value nuclear engineering schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in nuclear engineering will find it at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,879 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Set against $24,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $112,747 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,350 in student loans. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $81,134. Set against $21,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Idaho State University landed the #6 spot for nuclear engineering value this year. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $51,446. Set against $24,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for nuclear engineering value this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $63,226. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $74,540. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #9 spot for nuclear engineering value this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $49,983. Set against $19,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #10 for value in nuclear engineering this year. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Students borrow a median of $23,354 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $77,947 early in their careers. Set against $23,354 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #11 position for value in nuclear engineering this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $59,877. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $73,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #13 spot for nuclear engineering value this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $13,516. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,516 median debt. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.
Oregon State University earned the #14 position for value in nuclear engineering this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. 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. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value 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, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $18,471. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $66,604. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Colorado School Of Mines landed the #16 spot for nuclear engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Students borrow a median of $24,521 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. Set against $24,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #17 position for value in nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $70,326. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #18 spot for nuclear engineering value this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Students borrow a median of $24,799 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $78,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #19 for value in nuclear engineering this year. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. In-state tuition and fees average $64,078. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $19,500. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $77,014. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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).
[Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
