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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Nuclear Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region

4 Colleges in the United States
195 Nuclear Engineering Degrees Awarded
$79,246 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 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 Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the nuclear engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Nuclear Engineering

1

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in nuclear engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $21,350. Get the full nuclear engineering details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nuclear engineering, ranking #2. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 58 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $112,747 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree. See the full nuclear engineering program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

3

University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 29 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. Get the full nuclear engineering details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

4
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus came in at #4 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. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 52 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nuclear engineering degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,226 in the first couple years of their career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from Purdue University Main Campus

Narrow Nuclear Engineering Schools by State

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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. 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 · 7 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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