[General Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 40 schools to find the best return on investment for general nuclear engineering students.
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Finding the Best Value General Nuclear Engineering School for You
The right general nuclear engineering school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value General Nuclear Engineering Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value General 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 Florida, our #1 best value for general nuclear engineering in the United States. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $58,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the best values for general nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,879 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Set against $24,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general nuclear engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,226. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Berkeley earned it the #4 place for general nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $14,238. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #5 place for general nuclear engineering. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $22,000. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $112,747 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned the #6 position for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $23,354. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $77,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #7 among the best values for general nuclear engineering. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,350 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $81,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Idaho came in at #8 for value in general nuclear engineering this year. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,844 in student loans. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $43,246. Set against $23,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $21,813. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $74,540 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for general nuclear engineering. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $49,983. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Idaho State University landed the #12 spot for general nuclear engineering value this year. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $24,640. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $51,446 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,640 median debt.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #13 position for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $23,000. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $73,724 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $113,129. That is a strong return on a $13,516 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Oregon State University came in at #15 for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $69,657 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #16 among the best values for general nuclear engineering. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Students borrow a median of $18,471 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $66,604. Set against $18,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado School Of Mines ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,521 median debt. Colorado School Of Mines admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #18 position for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $70,326. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for general nuclear engineering value this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earned the #20 position for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute generally make around $77,014. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
General Nuclear Engineering Related Rankings by Major
General Nuclear Engineering is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
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).
[General Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
