2026 Best Value Nuclear Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Nuclear Engineering bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 40 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Nuclear Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus to be the best-value Nuclear Engineering school in the United States. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Graduates carry a median of $24,879 in student loans. Median earnings reach $102,772 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,879 median debt. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 14%. Get the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus report
A rank of #2 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the best values in the United States. Set in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $20,500. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $72,424. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 50%. Read more about Purdue University Main Campus
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,758 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 42% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
A rank of #4 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the best values in the United States. Located in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $18,471. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $72,097. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
You'll get strong value at University Of Florida, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $17,669. Median earnings reach $71,588 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants. Get the full University Of Florida report
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school based in Champaign, IL. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $81,054. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 42% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Wisconsin Madison offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $21,813. Median earnings reach $73,792 ten years out. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 45% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of Wisconsin Madison profile
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology placed #8 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Based in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,396. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $13,516. Graduates go on to earn a median of $143,372 ten years after entry. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 4% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
University Of California Berkeley offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. University Of California Berkeley Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $14,238 in debt. University Of California Berkeley alumni report median earnings of $92,446 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 11% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of California Berkeley
Missouri University Of Science And Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Rolla, MO, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $23,354. Graduates go on to earn a median of $82,957 ten years after entry. Set against $23,354 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants. Read more about Missouri University Of Science And Technology
The University Of Tennessee landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. Median earnings reach $60,249 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%. See the full The University Of Tennessee profile
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #12 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Troy, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,078. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute alumni report median earnings of $102,051 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%. More on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Oregon State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools. This public school is set in Corvallis, OR. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $27,000. Oregon State University alumni report median earnings of $64,010 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. About 77% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Oregon State University
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools. Set in Albuquerque, NM, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. University Of New Mexico Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $44,792 a decade after entry. Set against $19,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Mexico Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 95%. Read more about University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Idaho State University came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Set in Pocatello, ID, Idaho State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $24,640. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,608. Set against $24,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Idaho State University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Set in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,648 ten years after entry. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants. Get the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor report
Washington State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools. More on Washington State University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. See the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus profile
Wilberforce University landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Wilberforce University report
Kansas State University offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. See the full Kansas State University profile
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Colorado School Of Mines report
Naval Postgraduate School offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full Naval Postgraduate School report
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #24 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Tennessee Technological University placed #25 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Tennessee Technological University
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Nuclear Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
South Carolina State University placed #26 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on South Carolina State University
University Of South Carolina Columbia offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on University Of South Carolina Columbia
Cornell University offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about Cornell University
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management report
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg
United States Military Academy landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. More on United States Military Academy
University Of Utah offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read the full report on University Of Utah
University At Buffalo offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Read the full report on University At Buffalo
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read more about Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
United States Naval Academy came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Get the full United States Naval Academy report
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools. Read the full report on Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools. See the full Ohio State University Main Campus profile
University Of Maryland College Park placed #39 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. More on University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Idaho offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. More on University Of Idaho
Related Nuclear Engineering Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Nuclear Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Nuclear Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Nuclear Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Nuclear Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Nuclear Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Nuclear Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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