Nuclear Engineering

CIP Code: 14.2301

A nuclear engineering degree prepares graduates for careers in Architectural and engineering managers, Nuclear engineers, Engineering teachers, postsecondary. 33 colleges and universities offer this program.

Annual Degrees Awarded
959
Colleges Offering 33
Avg. Career Salary $133,793
Top Career Salary $167,740

Nuclear Engineering Salary by College

Nationally, bachelor’s graduates in this field earn a median $99,297 four years after graduating (middle half: $78,148–$122,219). Where you study it matters: across 12 colleges with reported results, pay ranges from $87,239 to $116,047.

Sort by:

#College4 yrs afterWage-adjusted1 yr afterMedian debtOutcome Rating
1University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL$116,047$114,015$81,134$20,500A+
2Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA$114,772$118,812—$21,426A+
3Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX$103,438$105,166$66,604$18,471A
4University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI$102,449$106,603——A+
5North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC$100,212$107,542$74,540$23,250A
6The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN$99,139$108,299$73,724$22,500B+
7Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA$94,365$95,970$78,218$24,623A
8University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI$94,330$99,460—$20,500A+
10Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR$94,105$94,659$69,657$27,000B
9Oregon State University Corvallis, OR$94,105$94,659$69,657$27,000B+
11Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO$89,929$96,423$77,947$22,773A
12Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY$87,239$83,033$77,014$19,500A+

Bachelor’s degrees. Wage-adjusted = pay ÷ √(state wage index). Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data.

What Can You Do With a Nuclear Engineering Degree?

Graduates with this degree pursue careers in the following fields:

Architectural and engineering managers

$167,740 +3.8% growth

Nuclear engineers

$127,520 -1.1% growth

Engineering teachers, postsecondary

$106,120 +8.1% growth
$133,793
Average Salary Across Careers
$167,740
Highest Paying Career
3
Career Paths Available

Best Colleges for Nuclear Engineering

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees awarded. These are the top-rated colleges that produce the most graduates in nuclear engineering.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 58 A+
2 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 57 A
3 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 41 A
4 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA 34 A
5 United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD 25 A
6 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 105 B+
7 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN 83 B+
8 North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC 77 B+
9 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL 56 B+
10 Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN 52 B+
11 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA 39 B+
12 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 29 B+
13 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA 27 B+
14 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 50 B
15 University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, NM 30 B
16 Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO 26 B
17 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY 25 B

Largest Nuclear Engineering Programs

Schools ranked by number of graduates. These institutions produce the most nuclear engineering graduates annually, including online and distance learning programs.

# College Location Degrees Awarded Repit Grade
1 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 105 B+
2 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN 83 B+
3 North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC 77 B+
4 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 58 A+
5 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 57 A
6 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL 56 B+
7 Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN 52 B+
8 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 50 B
9 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA 41 A
10 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA 39 B+
11 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA 34 A
12 University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, NM 30 B
13 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 29 B+
14 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA 27 B+
15 Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO 26 B
16 United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD 25 A
17 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY 25 B
959
Degrees Awarded Annually
33
Colleges Offering Program
3
Related Careers

About Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear Engineering is a degree program offered at 33 colleges and universities across the United States. Each year, approximately 959 students graduate with this degree.

Graduates with this degree can pursue careers such as architectural and engineering managers, nuclear engineers, engineering teachers, postsecondary.

Program Classification

CIP Code 14.2301
Field (2-digit CIP) 14
Category (4-digit CIP) 14.23

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with a Nuclear Engineering degree?
A Nuclear Engineering degree can lead to careers as a architectural and engineering managers, nuclear engineers, engineering teachers, postsecondary, and more. Top earners in related careers can make up to $167,740 annually.
How many colleges offer Nuclear Engineering?
33 colleges and universities in the United States offer Nuclear Engineering as a degree program. Each year, approximately 959 students graduate with this degree.
What are the best colleges for Nuclear Engineering?
The best colleges for Nuclear Engineering based on Repit's ratings include University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of California-Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, United States Naval Academy. Rankings are based on the college's overall Repit grade and the number of degrees awarded in this program.
What is the salary potential with a Nuclear Engineering degree?
Graduates with a Nuclear Engineering degree can expect average salaries around $133,793 in related careers, with top earners making up to $167,740. Actual salaries depend on the specific career path, experience level, and location.