ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value General Nuclear Engineering Master’s Degree Schools

9 Colleges in the United States
$21,294 Avg Student Debt
$79,387 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value General Nuclear Engineering Master's Degree Badge [General Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 40 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general nuclear engineering students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/general-nuclear-engineering/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget

2026 Best Value General Nuclear Engineering Schools in the United States

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general nuclear engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value General Nuclear Engineering Schools

1

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools in the United States. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $24,879. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 14%.

2
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

A rank of #2 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the best values for general nuclear engineering. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. General Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $63,226. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.

3

University Of California Berkeley is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general nuclear engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $70,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.

4

Students looking for strong value in general nuclear engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. 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. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #5 place for general nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. 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%.

ADBLOCK #101
6

University Of Idaho earned the #6 position for value in general nuclear engineering this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $23,844. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $43,246 early in their careers. Set against $23,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.

7

University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #7 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $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. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.

8

North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #8 among the best values for general nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $74,540. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.

9

University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in general nuclear engineering this year. 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. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $19,738. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $49,983. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.

10

The University Of Tennessee earned the #10 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. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $73,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.

ADBLOCK #115
11

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $13,516. General Nuclear Engineering graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,516 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.

12

Oregon State University placed #12 among the best values for general nuclear engineering. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general nuclear engineering program here. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $69,657. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.

13

Texas A And M University College Station ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general nuclear engineering schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $18,471. Soon after graduation, general nuclear engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $66,604. That is a strong return on a $18,471 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.

14

Colorado School Of Mines placed #14 among the best values for general nuclear engineering. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Typical student debt for general nuclear engineering graduates is $24,521. Early-career general nuclear engineering graduates make about $76,298. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado School Of Mines admits about 61% of applicants.

Other General Nuclear Engineering Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Nuclear Engineering rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in General Nuclear Engineering
Associate's Degrees in General Nuclear Engineering
Bachelor's Degrees in General Nuclear Engineering
ADBLOCK #173
View All General Nuclear Engineering Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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 9 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options