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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Nuclear Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools

13 Colleges in the United States
364 Nuclear Engineering Degrees Awarded
$72,803 Avg Early-Career Salary

Nuclear Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

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:

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Best Schools for Nuclear Engineering in the United States

Below are the best nuclear engineering schools at the bachelor’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.

Top Schools in Nuclear Engineering

1

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. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 31 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $81,134 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,350. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

A rank of #2 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top schools for nuclear engineering. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 22 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full nuclear engineering details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

3

University Of California Berkeley is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. 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 12 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. Get the full nuclear engineering details for University Of California Berkeley

4

Texas A And M University College Station is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 72 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $66,604 in the first couple years of their career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $18,471 in student loans. See the full nuclear engineering program report for Texas A And M University College Station

5
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nuclear engineering, ranking #5. 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. University Of Florida awarded about 13 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree. See the full nuclear engineering program report for University Of Florida

6

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #6 among the best nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $112,747. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the nuclear engineering program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

7
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. About 31 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. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the nuclear engineering program at Purdue University Main Campus

8

University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Get the full nuclear engineering details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

9

North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #9 among the best nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. Get the full nuclear engineering details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh

10

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #10 among the best nuclear engineering schools. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awarded about 16 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn around $77,014 in the first couple years of their career. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Get the full nuclear engineering details for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

11

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #11 for nuclear engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. About 16 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,879 in student loans. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

12

The University Of Tennessee came in at #12 for nuclear engineering this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $73,724 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000. See the full nuclear engineering program report for The University Of Tennessee

13

Missouri University Of Science And Technology ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best nuclear engineering schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Rolla. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Missouri University Of Science And Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $77,947. Missouri University Of Science And Technology graduates carry a median of $23,354 in student loans. See the full nuclear engineering program report for Missouri University Of Science And Technology

14

University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #14 among the best nuclear engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Albuquerque. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $49,983. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from University Of New Mexico Main Campus

15

Oregon State University earned the #15 position for nuclear engineering this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 nuclear engineering students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nuclear engineering program make about $69,657 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Oregon State University

Other Nuclear Engineering Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Nuclear Engineering rankings across degree levels:

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

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, 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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