Nuclear Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best nuclear engineering schools.
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget
Choosing a Great Nuclear Engineering School
The school you choose for nuclear engineering can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Nuclear Engineering Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Nuclear Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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 Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 school for nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 56 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $81,134. 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
Students looking for a strong nuclear engineering program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 57 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.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from University Of California Berkeley
Students looking for a strong nuclear engineering program will find one at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 39 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
Get the full nuclear engineering details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #4 makes Massachusetts Institute Of Technology one of the top schools for nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 40 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
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. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 105 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $66,604 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,471.
Get the full nuclear engineering details for Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #6 among the best nuclear engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 58 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $112,747 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nuclear engineering program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Florida landed the #7 spot for nuclear engineering this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $58,388 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
Get the full nuclear engineering details for University Of Florida
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #8 for nuclear engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 11 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Colorado School Of Mines in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. Colorado School Of Mines graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans.
See the full nuclear engineering program report for Colorado School Of Mines
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #9 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. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 29 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $59,877 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Purdue University Main Campus placed #10 among the best nuclear engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. About 52 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.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Purdue University Main Campus
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #11 for nuclear engineering this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 77 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $74,540. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
See the full nuclear engineering program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #12 among the best nuclear engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $83,560 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,879.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #13 among the best nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 27 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $70,326 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full nuclear engineering details for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #14 spot for nuclear engineering this year. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $77,014 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
The University Of Tennessee landed the #15 spot for nuclear engineering this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 83 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $73,724. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from The University Of Tennessee
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #16 for nuclear engineering this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Missouri University Of Science And Technology awarded about 26 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $77,947 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,354 to complete this degree.
Get the full nuclear engineering details for Missouri University Of Science And Technology
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #17 spot for nuclear engineering this year. 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 30 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.
See the full nuclear engineering program report for University Of New Mexico Main Campus
University Of Idaho came in at #18 for nuclear engineering this year. This large public university is located in the town of Moscow. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 13 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Idaho in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $43,246 in their early career. University Of Idaho graduates carry a median of $23,844 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from University Of Idaho
Oregon State University came in at #19 for nuclear engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Corvallis. Oregon State University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 50 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. Oregon State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full nuclear engineering details for Oregon State University
Idaho State University placed #20 among the best nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. About 23 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Idaho State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from Idaho State University earn around $51,446 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nuclear engineering program at Idaho State University
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.
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).
