### SUMMARY

 A degree in Nuclear Engineering is not only a valuable choice, but usually a necessary first step for undergrads endeavoring to enter a career as a reactor engineer, a nuclear engineer, or a nuclear medicine technologist. Interestingly, nationally, nuclear engineering is a ​unique degree ranking as the 269th most popular area of study. Last academic year, there were 543 nuclear engineering graduates. In-state tuition for nuclear engineering at private schools is, on average, 4.7 times more spendy than their public equivalents.

 With only 22 schools offering nuclear engineering you could have a smaller selection of institutions which will have a degree program for you. If you are looking to immerse yourself with other nuclear engineering students, consider colleges in Texas which have the most undergraduates admitted to nuclear engineering annually. less precisely, the top region to get a degree in nuclear engineering is in the Southeast region with [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus), [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](/colleges/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh), and [The University of Tennessee-Knoxville](/colleges/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville) best representing the region. Interestingly, our selection of the top conference to study nuclear engineering is the Southeastern Conference with [University of Florida](/colleges/university-of-florida), [The University of Tennessee-Knoxville](/colleges/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville), and [Texas A & M University-College Station](/colleges/texas-a-m-university-college-station) representing the conference. Based on our comprehensive list of the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges), our choice for the best university for nuclear engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology).

 The objectively 'best' school might not actually be the best school for you. There can be many more facets to consider when deciding on institution. Features like campus amenities, transportation services, and food would definitely change your thoughts of where to go to school. Here at authority.org, we examined the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you want to know which nuclear engineering university is home to the superior campus, the answer is [Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus](/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus). If you are very interested in which university is home to the finest campus, we have an entire list [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through government databases, professor reviews, student reviews, and more in order to compare each major in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can explore our well researched list for the colleges with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand, from that list, our pick for the school with the best student life for nuclear engineering is [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](/colleges/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor). Curious why? Keep scrolling to learn more about Authority's top recommendations. Some of our picks might shock you.

 If price is a major factor in your decisions, you might consider avoiding [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](/colleges/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute). [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](/colleges/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute)&nbspappears to be our most expensive school for nuclear engineering, at least regarding out of state attendance. That being said, we have a list of the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspschools that could put the price tag of [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](/colleges/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute)&nbspinto perspective. Additionally, you may want to know that nuclear engineering is the 207th most expensive degree in the US, with an average expense of $29,500. To zoom out a little, the most costly state for nuclear engineering nationally is New York with tuition and fees at the main college, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, of $54,000. To zoom out even further, the most costly region of the country for nuclear engineering is unfortunately unavailable due to missing data.

 Our cheapest region for nuclear engineering is the Rocky Mountains region which is represented by [Idaho State University](/colleges/idaho-state-university) with a cost of $22,224. In better news, the most affordable university for nuclear engineering is [University of New Mexico-Main Campus](/colleges/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus). Authority's full list of the most affordable colleges can be explored [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state learners can expect to pay around $11,700 for a degree in nuclear engineering. That price inflates significantly to a median of $33,200 for an out-of-state public-school student. As such, you might be interested in our selection for the college with the best value for nuclear engineering: [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). On this page you will find our comprehensive list for the schools we believe to be the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspin general. That being said, this idea is based on out-of-state tuition costs. The value proposition changes when in-state tuition is considered, but we do not know where you live (and are not trying to collect that kind of data).

 Earnings for nuclear engineering majors differ widely, but two years after completing the major students will regularly make around $70,900. While there can be much variation in earnings potential; top earners can experience pay up to $126,400. Straight out of university, the lowest earning opportunities within the nuclear engineering field make $39,000, which could be worse. The highest earning graduates from nuclear engineering come from [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand if you want to find the schools with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), Authority has that too.

 The all-around diversity of nuclear engineering is below average, arriving in the 42nd percentile of all programs. The university with the highest composite diversity for nuclear engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand here you can find our comprehensive list of the colleges which have the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The overall financial diversity of the Nuclear Engineering major ranks only in the 61st percentile compared to all other majors. Racial diversity is even lower in the 50th percentile. White undergraduates make up the largest proportion at 60% of those majoring in nuclear engineering. Additionally, 85% of undergrads seeking a nuclear engineering degree are men.

 The median ranking for nuclear engineering professors is 5 stars, a score which is 25% greater than the median score for all majors; which is a remarkably good score. If you are interested in the most popular nuclear engineering instructor nationally, consider looking up Kathryn Huff at [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign). This might surprise you, but the top ranked professors for nuclear engineering according to students come from [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign). As we including data other than basic rankings it becomes clear that the university with the best instructors for nuclear engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). One can find an explanation of our ever evolving ranking methodology of the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), as well as some of the finest instructors in the country.

 Finally, the most difficult school to get into for nuclear engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). While we think of this list more as a novelty, we do have a detailed list of the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). That being said, here at Authority we hope you understand that approaching university with a lens only built on superlatives could cause problems. We at Authority hope you explore our more focused pages on different topics and peruse some of our background pages on important details to look for as you progress with your university search.



 ### POPULARITY

 Nuclear engineering is the 269th most popular degree in America, with 543 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It narrowly lost to #268 [Construction Engineering](/rankings/best-colleges-for-construction-engineering).

 The degree is offered at a total of 22 colleges across the nation, and is the 372nd most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 6% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America.

 It is also worth noting that 94% of colleges offering nuclear engineering are public making it a very accessible field.

 The southeast produces the most nuclear engineering graduates, largely led by [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus), while it’s the Southeastern Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Texas ranks highest, with particular help from [Texas A & M University-College Station](/colleges/texas-a-m-university-college-station) and [Colorado School of Mines](/colleges/colorado-school-of-mines), which graduated 86 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study nuclear engineering). More students studied nuclear engineering as a percentage of total students at [Missouri University of Science and Technology](/colleges/missouri-university-of-science-and-technology) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Nuclear engineering is the 207th most expensive degree in the United States, with a median cost of $29,522 among the top 50 programs (just ahead of #208, [Pre-Occupational Therapy Studies](rankings/best-colleges-for-pre-occupational-therapy-studies), with a median cost of $29,517).

 New England has the most expensive schools with top 50 nuclear engineering programs predominantly led by [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology) with an annual cost of $53,450. New York is the most expensive state for nuclear engineering led by [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](/colleges/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute).

 Public schools with solid programs typically charge 78.62% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 39.22% less than the median private school. So, if you're hoping to attend a state school, make sure you're eligible for in-state tuition sooner rather than later.

 The most costly option in the top 25 is [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](/colleges/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute), which is the 73rd most expensive college in the United States. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [University of New Mexico-Main Campus](/colleges/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus). It costs just $21,716 per year, and it is ranked 19th for its nuclear engineering program. Another more affordable choice would be #18, [Idaho State University](/colleges/idaho-state-university) in Bannock County, ID with a cost of $5,928 for in-state students and $22,224 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Going to college is a massive investment for most people. It's critical to ensure you are well positioned to justify that investment. We wish for the following job placement and earnings facts to aid you in making an informed decision when selecting your major.

 Just after university, Nuclear Engineering students take home $66,169 per annum on average, which is the 30th highest of any focus. Later on in their professions, they can take in as high as $126,387 to as little as $39,044, but average around $70,892. For context, that is 84% more than the American average.

 The most popular job for a Nuclear Engineering graduate is Engineer, which generally earn approximately $59,000; next are Senior Engineer and Software Engineer, which generally make more or less $75,000 and $65,000 respectively.

 The most well paid region for Nuclear Engineering graduates is The Mid East. The highest grossing state for Nuclear Engineering graduates is PA. Great Lakes Valley Conference has the highest earning Nuclear Engineering graduates of any conference..



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Nuclear Engineering: Median Professor Rating: 5 / 5, which is Top 10.

 Instructors often play a massive role in shaping your college experience, regardless of your major. An amazing professor might help a student find their passion and even make a difficult subject seem fun. Conversely, an ineffective professor can mess up your development or even worse... fail you!

 Professors of Nuclear Engineering boast a median student rating of 5 out of 5, which puts these professors in 4th place in America grounded in overall professor effectivness. For context that's 25% north of the national median professor rating for all subjects. Professors of Nuclear Engineering just edged-out those from ["Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-mechatronics-robotics-and-automation-engineering), whereas ["Industrial and Organizational Psychology"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-industrial-and-organizational-psychology)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Nuclear Engineering.

 Now for some statistics about Nuclear Engineering professors. Colleges located in small citys tend to have the best Nuclear Engineering professors. The Big Ten Conference has the highest rated Nuclear Engineering professors. The Great Lakes region has the highest rated Nuclear Engineering professors. Public universities tend to have higher rated Nuclear Engineering professors than private colleges. Finally, Illinois has the highest rated Nuclear Engineering professors in the US.

 Kathryn Huff, professor at [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign)&nbspin Champaign, IL is the most popular Nuclear Engineering professor in the nation. Kathryn Huff, instructor at [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign)&nbspin Champaign, IL is the highest rated Nuclear Engineering professor in the nation, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 See which colleges have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College often can be an incredibly significant investment in one's life; it's an occasion for personal growth and evolution. Pupils start to discover who they are as people and forge many of the essential skills to become a flourishing member of society. But learning goes beyond a classroom environment - the discussions one has with their classmates, the personal lesson gained from an old instructor, the exposure to a different point of view. As such, a diverse campus tremendously improves what one gains from the time in university.

 Nuclear Engineering is a slightly more ethnically diverse major than average\*. 60% of the US' Nuclear Engineering majors are white students, followed by students of other races\*\*(21%), latino students (12%), and asian students (5%). The most racially diverse college\* in the top 100 is [University of New Mexico-Main Campus](/colleges/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus)&nbspin Albuquerque, NM.

 In addition, Nuclear Engineering is the the 16th most male dominated major, with male students out numbering female students by a 6 to 1 ratio. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley) in Berkeley, CA.

 Another substantial type of diversity is wealth diversity. Nuclear Engineering is more socioeconomically diverse than 61% of focuses. 30% of its majors come from families taking in north of $110,000 per year, 16% are from homes with $48,000 to $75,000 annual incomes, and 22% grew up in families making below $30,000 a year. [Missouri University of Science and Technology](/colleges/missouri-university-of-science-and-technology) has the most economically diverse student body in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall CA is the most diverse state for Nuclear Engineering. The New England is the most diverse region, and the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 5%
* Black: 1%
* Latino: 12%
* White: 60%
* Other: 21%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 85%
* Female: 15%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 22%
* 30k - 48k: 15%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 16%
* Over 110k: 30%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 71%
* Out of State: 21%
* International: 8%


University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

University of California-Berkeley

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

United States Military Academy

Purdue University-Main Campus

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

University of Florida

Texas A & M University-College Station

University of Wisconsin-Madison

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Oregon State University

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University of New Mexico-Main Campus

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

South Carolina State University

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

University at Buffalo

United States Naval Academy

Wilberforce University

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Idaho State University

Columbia University in the City of New York

Search for the best Nuclear Engineering colleges according to your filter parameters.

2023 Nuclear Engineering Salary

There are about 1,601 students enrolled in Nuclear Engineering in the USA.

SALARY