Best colleges for Nuclear Engineering
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Nuclear Engineering by graduate earnings are University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($81,134), Pennsylvania State University ($78,218) and Missouri University of Science and Technology ($77,947), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, IL): $81,134, 42 graduates a year
- Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA): $78,218, 46 graduates a year
- Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla, MO): $77,947, 30 graduates a year
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh (Raleigh, NC): $74,540, 69 graduates a year
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (Knoxville, TN): $73,724, 83 graduates a year
Compare 30 U.S. colleges offering Nuclear Engineering by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 24 states.
Nuclear Engineering programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,540 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 14.23 and the Nuclear Engineers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Nuclear Engineering programs
Nuclear Engineering is a specialized field within engineering that focuses on the design, development, and operation of nuclear systems and technologies. This program is ideal for students interested in the science of atomic nuclei, their interactions, and the practical applications of nuclear energy and radiation in various industries.
Students in Nuclear Engineering will acquire essential skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and science, along with knowledge in engineering technology, physics, and public safety. Coursework typically involves hands-on training in designing nuclear equipment, monitoring facility operations, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,134 | 42 | 85% | — | $21,350 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,218 | 46 | 86% | — | $24,799 |
| 3 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,947 | 30 | 64% | — | $23,354 |
| 4 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,540 | 69 | 85% | — | $23,250 |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,724 | 83 | 74% | — | $23,000 |
| 6 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,657 | 41 | 70% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,604 | 102 | 84% | — | $18,471 |
| 8 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,226 | 52 | 83% | — | $20,500 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $78,218 | 6 | 34% | — | $24,799 |
| 10 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $77,014 | 17 | 84% | $28,900 | $19,500 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA Public · Certificate | $70,326 | 32 | 85% | — | $27,000 |
Specializations within Nuclear Engineering
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 14.23 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 24 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinoislimited | 1 | $81,134 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $78,218 | Pennsylvania State University |
| Missourilimited | 1 | $77,947 | Missouri University of Science and Technology |
| New Yorklimited | 2 | $77,014 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
| North Carolinalimited | 1 | $74,540 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh |
| Tennesseelimited | 1 | $73,724 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | $69,657 | Oregon State University |
| Texaslimited | 1 | $66,604 | Texas A&M University - College Station |
| Indianalimited | 1 | $63,226 | Purdue University |
| Californialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Coloradolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Floridalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Georgialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Idaholimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kansaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Marylandlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Massachusettslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Michiganlimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Mexicolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohiolimited | 2 | — | — |
| South Carolinalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Wisconsinlimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2161, Nuclear Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Nuclear Engineering can pursue careers in various sectors, including energy production and safety regulation. The job outlook indicates a decline of 1.1%, with approximately 800 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $127,520, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Nuclear Engineering
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 14.23.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 14.23 (Nuclear Engineering) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9041 | Architectural and Engineering Managers |
| 17-2161 | Nuclear Engineersprimary |
| 25-1032 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Nuclear Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
- Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
- Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
- Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
- Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
- Design or oversee construction or operation of nuclear reactors, power plants, or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.
Common questions
What is Nuclear Engineering?+
Nuclear Engineering focuses on the design and operation of nuclear systems, including reactors and radiation safety.
What skills will I learn?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, science, and public safety.
What are the career prospects?+
The outlook shows a decline of 1.1%, with about 800 annual job openings.
What is the typical salary?+
The median wage for Nuclear Engineering professionals is $127,520.
How much do Nuclear Engineering graduates earn?+
Nuclear Engineering graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,540, College Scorecard (2019); the Nuclear Engineers occupation pays about $140,420 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Nuclear Engineering?+
Nuclear Engineering maps to CIP 14.23 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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