2026 Best Nuclear Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools

#1

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

Cambridge, MA

Leading the list is Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, our #1 Nuclear Engineering school in the United States. Located in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $62,396. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $13,516 in debt. See the full Massachusetts Institute Of Technology profile

#2

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

Atlanta, GA

The strong Nuclear Engineering programs at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #2 place in the United States. Located in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $24,879 in debt. See the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus profile

#3

Texas A And M University College Station

College Station, TX

Texas A And M University College Station came in at #3 on this year's Nuclear Engineering ranking in the United States. This public school is set in College Station, TX. About 84% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $18,471 in student loans. Get the full Texas A And M University College Station report

#4

University Of California Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

You'll be in good company at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $14,238. Read more about University Of California Berkeley

#5

North Carolina State University At Raleigh

Raleigh, NC

A rank of #5 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $23,250. Read the full report on North Carolina State University At Raleigh

#6

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

Champaign, IL

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Set in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Graduates carry a median of $21,350 in student loans. Read more about University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

#7

Purdue University Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. This public school is set in West Lafayette, IN. Purdue University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. More on Purdue University Main Campus

#8

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Troy, NY. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,078. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. More on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

#9

University Of Wisconsin Madison

Madison, WI

University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. Based in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison posts a six-year graduation rate of 90%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. University Of Wisconsin Madison Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $21,813 in debt. More on University Of Wisconsin Madison

#10

Colorado School Of Mines

Golden, CO

Colorado School Of Mines landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Colorado School Of Mines is a public school based in Golden, CO. Colorado School Of Mines graduates 82% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $24,521. Read more about Colorado School Of Mines

#11

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $23,393. Read more about Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

#12

University Of Florida

Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. Based in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. See the full University Of Florida profile

#14

Ohio State University Main Campus

Columbus, OH

Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. Set in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Read more about Ohio State University Main Campus

#15

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS

Kansas State University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Kansas State University Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $23,546 in debt. Read more about Kansas State University

#16

Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Rolla, MO

Missouri University Of Science And Technology placed #16 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Located 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, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $23,354. More on Missouri University Of Science And Technology

#17

The University Of Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

The University Of Tennessee came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Set in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. 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. More on The University Of Tennessee

#18

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $22,000 in debt. More on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

#19

University Of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

University Of Utah did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. University Of Utah graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $20,798. Read more about University Of Utah

#20

University Of Idaho

Moscow, ID

University Of Idaho did well this year, earning the #20 position. University Of Idaho is a public school based in Moscow, ID. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $23,844. See the full University Of Idaho profile

#21

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR

Oregon State University landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Oregon State University is a public school based in Corvallis, OR. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full Oregon State University report

#22

Idaho State University

Pocatello, ID

Idaho State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. Located in Pocatello, ID, Idaho State University is a public institution. Idaho State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 35%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $24,640. More on Idaho State University

#22

Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg

Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. More on Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg

#23

Pennsylvania State University World Campus

Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University World Campus

#24

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #24 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

#25

Wilberforce University

Wilberforce University placed #25 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Wilberforce University

#26

Tennessee Technological University

Tennessee Technological University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. More on Tennessee Technological University

#27

South Carolina State University

South Carolina State University did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read more about South Carolina State University

#28

University Of New Mexico Main Campus

University Of New Mexico Main Campus did well this year, earning the #28 position. More on University Of New Mexico Main Campus

#29

United States Military Academy

United States Military Academy came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Read more about United States Military Academy

#30

University Of Washington Seattle Campus

University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus profile

#31

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. See the full Worcester Polytechnic Institute profile

#32

University At Buffalo

University At Buffalo did well this year, earning the #32 position. Read the full report on University At Buffalo

#33

University Of Maryland College Park

University Of Maryland College Park placed #33 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Maryland College Park report

#34

University Of South Carolina Columbia

University Of South Carolina Columbia did well this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Columbia

#35

United States Naval Academy

United States Naval Academy came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Get the full United States Naval Academy report

#36

Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management

Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management

#37

Cornell University

Cornell University placed #37 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cornell University

#38

Washington State University

Washington State University came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on Washington State University

#39

Naval Postgraduate School

Naval Postgraduate School landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. More on Naval Postgraduate School

#40

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #40 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. See the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus profile