by our College Data Analytics Team
[Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a nuclear engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the early-career earnings of their nuclear engineering graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send nuclear engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
University Of Florida tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying nuclear engineering schools in the United States. University Of Florida is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of about $112,160 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. After graduating, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $110,897 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in nuclear engineering will find them at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor make a median of around $99,564 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #4 place for nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of about $98,613 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earned it the #5 place for nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute make a median of around $97,907 per year.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #6 for nuclear engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. After graduating, nuclear engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee typically earn about $94,044 annually.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #7 for nuclear engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of about $86,902 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $81,134 a year early in their careers.
Oregon State University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for nuclear engineering. Oregon State University is a public school located in the city of Corvallis. After graduating, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Oregon State University typically earn about $94,372 annually.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #10 position for nuclear engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. After graduating, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station typically earn about $91,599 annually.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #11 for nuclear engineering graduate earnings this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school located in the city of Raleigh. After graduating, nuclear engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh typically earn about $74,540 annually.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nuclear engineering schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students who complete the nuclear engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,226.
Explore the highest-paying nuclear engineering schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries nuclear engineering graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 12 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
