2026 Best Value Nuclear Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Nuclear Engineering doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 40 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. This public school is set in College Station, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $18,471. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,097 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station has an acceptance rate of 57%. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #2 place in the United States. This public school is set in Atlanta, GA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,879 in student loans. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $102,772 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,879 median debt. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants. Get the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #3 place in the United States. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school based in Madison, WI. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,792 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Madison report
University Of California Berkeley came in at #4 on this year's best-value Nuclear Engineering ranking in the United States. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $92,446. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. About 11% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of California Berkeley report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #5 place in the United States. Located 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, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,758. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools. This public school is set in West Lafayette, IN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $20,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,424 ten years after entry. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants. Read the full report on Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school based in Champaign, IL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $81,054. That is a strong return on a $21,350 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%. See the full University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign profile
Kansas State University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Kansas State University is a public school based in Manhattan, KS. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,546 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $57,262. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted. More on Kansas State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Blacksburg, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $23,393 in debt. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University alumni report median earnings of $81,698 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%. Get the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University report
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools. Located in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $13,516. Median earnings reach $143,372 ten years out. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology has an acceptance rate of 4%. Read the full report on Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
University Of Florida offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $71,588. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida has an acceptance rate of 24%. Read the full report on University Of Florida
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Based in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $24,521. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $97,335. That is a strong return on a $24,521 median debt. About 61% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Colorado School Of Mines report
Missouri University Of Science And Technology ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public school based in Rolla, MO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,354 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. Missouri University Of Science And Technology alumni report median earnings of $82,957 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted. See the full Missouri University Of Science And Technology profile
University Of Utah placed #15 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Based in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. University Of Utah alumni report median earnings of $67,170 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. About 86% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Utah
The University Of Tennessee came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. The University Of Tennessee is a public school based in Knoxville, TN. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $23,000. The University Of Tennessee alumni report median earnings of $60,249 a decade after entry. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted. See the full The University Of Tennessee profile
Ohio State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical Nuclear Engineering student debt is $22,053. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $60,409. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 61%. More on Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Idaho ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools. University Of Idaho is a public school based in Moscow, ID. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,084, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Graduates carry a median of $23,844 in student loans. Median earnings reach $54,670 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%. See the full University Of Idaho profile
Oregon State University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Located in Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Oregon State University Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $64,010. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants. Read the full report on Oregon State University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Troy, NY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Nuclear Engineering students take on a median of $19,500 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $102,051. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute report
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. The median Nuclear Engineering program debt is $22,000. Median earnings reach $83,648 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%. More on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Idaho State University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Idaho State University is a public school based in Pocatello, ID. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete their Nuclear Engineering program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,608 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Idaho State University
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg
Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Worcester Polytechnic Institute
United States Military Academy offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Get the full United States Military Academy report
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #25 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. See the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Nuclear Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Tennessee Technological University offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on Tennessee Technological University
Naval Postgraduate School landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Naval Postgraduate School
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #29 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. More on University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of New Mexico Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full University Of New Mexico Main Campus report
University At Buffalo came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University At Buffalo
United States Naval Academy placed #32 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about United States Naval Academy
Washington State University placed #33 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about Washington State University
University Of Maryland College Park placed #34 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. See the full University Of Maryland College Park profile
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Pennsylvania State University World Campus report
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. More on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
South Carolina State University landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full South Carolina State University report
Cornell University placed #38 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. More on Cornell University
Wilberforce University offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. More on Wilberforce University
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management placed #40 among the best-value Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management report
Related Nuclear Engineering Value Rankings
See value rankings for 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Nuclear Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Nuclear Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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