2027 Best Value Nuclear Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value nuclear engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nuclear engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools
For return on investment in nuclear engineering, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $58,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in nuclear engineering will find it at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #2. 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. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #3 place for nuclear engineering. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. 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. That is a strong return on a $24,879 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value nuclear engineering schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #5 place for 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. Students borrow a median of $21,350 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $81,134 early in their careers. 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 landed the #6 spot for nuclear engineering value this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, 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 placed #7 among the best values for nuclear engineering. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #8 among the best values for nuclear engineering. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $74,540. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology placed #9 among the best values for nuclear engineering. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,984 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #10 spot for nuclear engineering value this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $21,813. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #11 spot for nuclear engineering value 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. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Nuclear Engineering graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $73,724 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology placed #12 among the best values for nuclear engineering. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. 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 ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $69,657. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #14 for value in nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Students borrow a median of $18,471 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $66,604. That is a strong return on a $18,471 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #15 for value in nuclear engineering this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $24,799. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $78,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Other Nuclear Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best-value nuclear engineering schools at other degree levels:
View All Nuclear Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 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.
