2026 Best Nuclear Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Nuclear Engineering bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 40 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nuclear Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology tops our 2026 ranking of the best Nuclear Engineering bachelor's degree schools in the United States. Based in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $13,516. Read the full report on Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Out of the 40 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus landed the #2 spot. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public school based in Atlanta, GA. About 94% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,879 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. Read the full report on Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Out of the 40 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Texas A And M University College Station landed the #3 spot. Based in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Texas A And M University College Station posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $18,471. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
Out of the 40 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of California Berkeley landed the #4 spot. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. University Of California Berkeley Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $14,238 in debt. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
Out of the 40 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #5 spot. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $21,350 in debt. Get the full University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign report
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. Located in Troy, NY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. More on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Purdue University Main Campus placed #7 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Located in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Read the full report on Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #8 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Madison, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Madison report
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #9 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. North Carolina State University At Raleigh Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $23,250 in debt. Read the full report on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Florida did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. About 91% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $17,669. More on University Of Florida
Missouri University Of Science And Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. Based in Rolla, MO, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Missouri University Of Science And Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $23,354. See the full Missouri University Of Science And Technology profile
The University Of Tennessee came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Knoxville, TN. The University Of Tennessee posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Get the full The University Of Tennessee report
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #13 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school based in Ann Arbor, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $22,000 in debt. See the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor profile
Oregon State University landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Located in Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University is a public institution. Oregon State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Oregon State University Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Get the full Oregon State University report
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. Based in Albuquerque, NM, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $19,738. Read more about University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Idaho State University placed #16 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Pocatello, ID. About 35% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $24,640. More on Idaho State University
University Of Utah ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. Get the full University Of Utah report
Ohio State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full Ohio State University Main Campus report
Washington State University placed #19 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Washington State University
University At Buffalo did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on University At Buffalo
University Of Idaho placed #21 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. See the full University Of Idaho profile
Kansas State University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Get the full Kansas State University report
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Get the full Colorado School Of Mines report
Tennessee Technological University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Get the full Tennessee Technological University report
Rest of the Top 15% Best Nuclear Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
South Carolina State University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on South Carolina State University
United States Military Academy did well this year, earning the #27 position. More on United States Military Academy
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Pennsylvania State University World Campus did well this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Cornell University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. Read more about Cornell University
University Of South Carolina Columbia did well this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full University Of South Carolina Columbia report
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg did well this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Washington Seattle Campus did well this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Wilberforce University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. Read more about Wilberforce University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute placed #36 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University did well this year, earning the #37 position. More on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #38 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Maryland College Park
Naval Postgraduate School did well this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Naval Postgraduate School profile
United States Naval Academy came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Get the full United States Naval Academy report
Related Nuclear Engineering Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Nuclear Engineering Schools (All Levels)
- Best Nuclear Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nuclear Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nuclear Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Nuclear Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nuclear Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Nuclear Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 40 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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