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2027 Best Nuclear Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools

16 Colleges in the United States
392 Nuclear Engineering Degrees Awarded
$75,662 Avg Early-Career Salary

Nuclear Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best nuclear engineering schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Nuclear Engineering in the United States

These are the top schools for a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering, based on student outcomes and program quality.

Top Schools in Nuclear Engineering

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year for nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign 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. Typical student debt for the program is $21,350. Get the full nuclear engineering details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $70,847 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238. See the full nuclear engineering program report for University Of California Berkeley

3

A rank of #3 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the top schools for nuclear engineering. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 70 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $66,604 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,471 to complete this degree. See the full nuclear engineering program report for Texas A And M University College Station

4
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 22 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree. See the full nuclear engineering program report for University Of Florida

5

A rank of #5 makes Massachusetts Institute Of Technology one of the top schools for nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 13 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. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. See the full nuclear engineering program report for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

6

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #6 among the best nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $112,747. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Get the full nuclear engineering details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

7

University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #7 spot for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. Read more about the nuclear engineering program at University Of Wisconsin Madison

8
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus placed #8 among the best nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 33 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus 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

9

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #9 for nuclear engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 34 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $78,218. Students borrow a median of $24,799 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

10

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #10 for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 18 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,879. Read more about the nuclear engineering program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

11

North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 18 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $74,540 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. See the full nuclear engineering program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh

12

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #12 spot for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $77,014 early in their careers. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Get the full nuclear engineering details for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

13

The University Of Tennessee came in at #13 for nuclear engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 39 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $73,724 in their early career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Get the full nuclear engineering details for The University Of Tennessee

14

Missouri University Of Science And Technology ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Rolla. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 23 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Missouri University Of Science And Technology in the most recent 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. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Missouri University Of Science And Technology

15

Oregon State University earned the #15 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%. About 23 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Oregon State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from Oregon State University earn around $69,657 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Oregon State University

16

University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned the #16 position for nuclear engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Albuquerque. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $49,983 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,738. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from University Of New Mexico Main Campus

Other Nuclear Engineering Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Nuclear Engineering rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Nuclear Engineering
Master's Degrees in Nuclear Engineering

View All Nuclear Engineering Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 16 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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