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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Nuclear Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region

4 Colleges in the United States
214 Nuclear Engineering Degrees Awarded
$72,553 Avg Early-Career Salary

Nuclear Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 8 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 Southeast 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 Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 school for nuclear engineering. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 20 nuclear engineering degrees in the most recent data 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. Read more about the nuclear engineering program at University Of Florida

2

North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students 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. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from North Carolina State University At Raleigh

3

Students looking for a strong nuclear engineering program will find one at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #3. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. 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. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,879 in student loans. Get the full nuclear engineering details for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

4

A rank of #4 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the top schools for nuclear engineering. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. About 83 nuclear engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $73,724. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nuclear engineering from The University Of Tennessee

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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