Nuclear Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools to find the best for nuclear engineering students.
Where you study nuclear engineering matters for your future. That is why we built our Best Nuclear Engineering Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Nuclear Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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 Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 school for nuclear engineering. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 42 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $81,134. Students borrow a median of $21,350 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for nuclear engineering. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans.
See the full nuclear engineering program report for University Of California Berkeley
Students looking for a strong nuclear engineering program will find one at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, which ranked #3. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $113,129 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 102 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $66,604 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,471 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $112,747 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Florida earned the #6 position for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 35 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 41 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from University Of Wisconsin Madison
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #8 for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 69 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $74,540 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
See the full nuclear engineering program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #9 position for nuclear engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 52 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,226 early in their careers. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Purdue University Main Campus
Colorado School Of Mines earned the #10 position for nuclear engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 15 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Colorado School Of Mines in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from Colorado School Of Mines earn around $76,298 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,521 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Colorado School Of Mines
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #11 for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $70,326. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #12 for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. About 38 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Typical student debt for the program is $24,879.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #13 for nuclear engineering this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn around $78,218 in the first couple years of their career. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,799 in student loans.
Read more about the nuclear engineering program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #14 spot for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 17 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute generally make around $77,014. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Tennessee earned the #15 position for nuclear engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 83 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $73,724 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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Missouri University Of Science And Technology landed the #16 spot for nuclear engineering this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Rolla. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Missouri University Of Science And Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $77,947 in their early career. Missouri University Of Science And Technology graduates carry a median of $23,354 in student loans.
See the full nuclear engineering program report for Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Oregon State University earned the #17 position for nuclear engineering this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 41 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $69,657. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Oregon State University
Idaho State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. Idaho State University graduates 35% of students within six years. About 31 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Idaho State University in the most recent year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $51,446 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,640.
Read more about the nuclear engineering program at Idaho State University
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #19 spot for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of New Mexico Main Campus awarded about 19 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $49,983 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,738.
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The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 19 schools evaluated.
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).
