Best Schools for Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear Engineering graduates earn a median of $99,177 within four years of graduating, ranking #34 out of 283 tracked majors — 59% above the median across all fields. There are 13 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 337 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn $116,047 while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn $87,239 — a $28,808 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Nuclear Engineering graduates see an average 7% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$99,177

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#34

of 283 Majors

337

Graduates

Public vs Private: Nuclear Engineering

Public (12 schools)

$100,263

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (1 schools)

$87,239

avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Nuclear Engineering, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Nuclear Engineering by State

Top Nuclear Engineering Schools by Graduate Earnings

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

$116,047

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

2yr: $69,535 (22)

1yr: $65,618 (29)

Acceptance: 43.7%

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA · Public

$114,772

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

2yr: $69,338 (21)

1yr: $73,557 (20)

Acceptance: 16.5%

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$102,449

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

2yr: $49,644 (19)

Acceptance: 43.4%

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

$94,330

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

2yr: $53,358 (18)

1yr: $41,147 (18)

Acceptance: 17.9%

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, MO · Public

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY · Private

$87,239

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$59,124

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 24.0%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Engineering Science $62,500 Engineering, General $62,318 Civil Engineering $60,161 Materials Sciences $60,093 Engineering-Related Fields $59,843 Bioethics/Medical Ethics $59,313

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Nuclear Engineering?

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks #1 for Nuclear Engineering with median graduate earnings of $116,047 within four years of graduating. There are 13 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Nuclear Engineering graduates earn?

Nuclear Engineering graduates earn an average of $99,177 within four years of graduating. This is 59% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $87,239 to $116,047 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Nuclear Engineering program?

The average acceptance rate across Nuclear Engineering programs is 48.3%. The most selective program is at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus with a 16.5% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Nuclear Engineering?

Private Nuclear Engineering programs average $87,239 in early earnings vs $100,263 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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