Nuclear Engineering
Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment
Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)
Best Schools for Nuclear Engineering by Earnings
| # | School | 4yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public | $116,047 |
| 2 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public | $114,772 |
| 3 | Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public | $103,438 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Madison WI · Public | $102,449 |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC · Public | $100,212 |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville TN · Public | $99,139 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public | $94,365 |
| 8 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public | $94,330 |
| 9 | Oregon State University OR · Public | $94,105 |
| 10 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus OR · Public | $94,105 |
| 11 | Missouri University of Science and Technology MO · Public | $89,929 |
| 12 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NY · Private | $87,239 |
Is Nuclear Engineering Worth It?
The Numbers Support This Major
Nuclear Engineering is one of the strongest financial bets in higher education. With average graduate earnings of $80,252 four years after graduation, this field consistently outperforms the median across all majors. The return on investment is clear.
This is a more specialized field, offered at 13 schools in our dataset. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so pay close attention to the financial aid packages you receive.
The top school for this major by earnings is Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, where graduates earn $114,772 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.
Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.