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2026 Best Nuclear Engineering Master’s Degree Schools

9 Colleges in the United States
252 Nuclear Engineering Degrees Awarded
$74,184 Avg Early-Career Salary

Nuclear Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 40 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nuclear engineering students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Nuclear Engineering in the United States

See the highest-ranked nuclear engineering schools offering a master’s degree below.

Top Schools in Nuclear Engineering

1

Our analysis ranked University Of California Berkeley the best school in the country for a degree in 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. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 31 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $70,847 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree. Read more about the nuclear engineering program at University Of California Berkeley

2

Students looking for a strong nuclear engineering program will find one at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $113,129. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

3

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $81,134 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $21,350 in student loans. Read more about the nuclear engineering program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for nuclear engineering. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 25 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $112,747 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the nuclear engineering program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

5

Texas A And M University College Station came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 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. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $18,471 in student loans. Read more about the nuclear engineering program at Texas A And M University College Station

6
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus came in at #6 for nuclear engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 15 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,226. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. Get the full nuclear engineering details for Purdue University Main Campus

7

University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. 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. About 12 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. Get the full nuclear engineering details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

8

Colorado School Of Mines ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. Colorado School Of Mines graduates 82% of students within six years. Colorado School Of Mines awarded about 10 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $76,298 in their early career. Colorado School Of Mines graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans. Get the full nuclear engineering details for Colorado School Of Mines

9

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #9 among the best nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data 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. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

10

North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #10 spot for nuclear engineering this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 29 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. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from North Carolina State University At Raleigh

11

The University Of Tennessee landed the #11 spot for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 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. See the full nuclear engineering program report for The University Of Tennessee

12

University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Albuquerque. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates 54% of students within six years. About 12 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,738. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from University Of New Mexico Main Campus

13

Oregon State University landed the #13 spot for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 18 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. See the full nuclear engineering program report for Oregon State University

14

University Of Idaho earned the #14 position for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 10 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Idaho in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from University Of Idaho earn around $43,246 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,844 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from University Of Idaho

Other Nuclear Engineering Degree Levels

Explore the best nuclear engineering schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Nuclear Engineering
Associate's Degrees in Nuclear Engineering
Bachelor's Degrees in Nuclear Engineering
View All Nuclear Engineering Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 40 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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