2026 Best Nuclear Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region

Nuclear Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best nuclear engineering schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Nuclear Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region

Best Schools for Nuclear Engineering in the Far Western Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nuclear engineering education in the Far Western Region.

Top Schools in Nuclear Engineering

1

University Of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

57 Nuclear Engineering Degrees Awarded

$70,847 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked University Of California Berkeley the best school in the country for a degree in nuclear engineering. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 57 nuclear engineering degrees 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

2

Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

50 Nuclear Engineering Degrees Awarded

$69,657 Median Starting Salary

Oregon State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 50 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Oregon State University in the most recent year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $69,657 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full nuclear engineering program report for Oregon State University

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.