2026 Best Nuclear Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Nuclear Engineering master’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 40 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Massachusetts Institute Of Technology to be the best Nuclear Engineering school in the United States. Set in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $13,516. See the full Massachusetts Institute Of Technology profile
You'll be in good company at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. 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. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. About 84% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $18,471. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
You'll be in good company at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. Read the full report on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Out of the 40 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #5 spot. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school based in Madison, WI. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $21,813. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,350 in student loans. See the full University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign profile
Purdue University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $20,500. Get the full Purdue University Main Campus report
University Of California Berkeley did well this year, earning the #8 position. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. About 93% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, 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. Get the full University Of California Berkeley report
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #9 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. See the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University profile
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Located in Troy, NY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $64,078. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. More on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor did well this year, earning the #11 position. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school based in Ann Arbor, MI. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $22,000 in debt. Read more about University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Colorado School Of Mines landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Golden, CO. Colorado School Of Mines graduates 82% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Colorado School Of Mines Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $24,521 in debt. Get the full Colorado School Of Mines report
University Of Florida came in at #13 in this year's ranking. University Of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students 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
The University Of Tennessee landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Set in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. The University Of Tennessee posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $23,000. Read more about The University Of Tennessee
Missouri University Of Science And Technology ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. This public school is set in Rolla, MO. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Students borrow a median of $23,354 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. More on Missouri University Of Science And Technology
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #16 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $27,000. See the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus profile
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #17 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Columbus, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Ohio State University Main Campus Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $22,053 in debt. Get the full Ohio State University Main Campus report
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Set in Columbia, SC, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Graduates carry a median of $24,472 in student loans. Read more about University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of Idaho placed #19 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Moscow, ID. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,084, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $23,844. Get the full University Of Idaho report
Oregon State University placed #20 among Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Corvallis, OR. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. Read the full report on Oregon State University
University Of Utah landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Based in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $20,798. Get the full University Of Utah report
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public school based in Albuquerque, NM. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $19,738. See the full University Of New Mexico Main Campus profile
Idaho State University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Pocatello, ID, Idaho State University is a public institution. Idaho State University graduates 35% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $24,640. Read the full report on Idaho State University
Kansas State University did well this year, earning the #24 position. See the full Kansas State University profile
Tennessee Technological University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Nuclear Engineering schools. More on Tennessee Technological University
Rest of the Top 15% Best Nuclear Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
University Of Maryland College Park did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
Pennsylvania State University World Campus did well this year, earning the #27 position. See the full Pennsylvania State University World Campus profile
University At Buffalo did well this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full University At Buffalo report
United States Military Academy came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Get the full United States Military Academy report
Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus report
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg
South Carolina State University did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read the full report on South Carolina State University
Naval Postgraduate School did well this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on Naval Postgraduate School
Wilberforce University landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Wilberforce University
Washington State University came in at #36 in this year's ranking. More on Washington State University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management did well this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management
Cornell University landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Cornell University
United States Naval Academy did well this year, earning the #40 position. See the full United States Naval Academy profile
Related Nuclear Engineering Rankings
See rankings for 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Nuclear Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nuclear Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled 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).