by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Nuclear Engineering Technology allows you to study engineering principles and technical skills in order to support engineers and other professionals working with nuclear materials. Students will learn about operating nuclear facilities, nuclear applications and safety procedures. Along with this, you will be introduced to nuclear systems, radiological safety, radiological applications, nuclear plant and systems design, and nuclear science.
Students who chose a path in Nuclear Engineering Technology will be exposed to courses in Engineering of Nuclear Reactors, Superconducting Magnets, Physical Metallurgy, and Nuclear Reactor Safety. These courses will all teach students the fundamentals behind the nuclear industry. This major is typically offered as an Associate's degree, however at some institutions can be offered as a Bachelors.
Nuclear Engineering Technology was the 315th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 220 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 39.5% reduction in nuclear engineering tech degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 307.
Our 2023 Best Nuclear Engineering Technology Schools ranking analyzes 2 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for nuclear engineering technology students. Explore this or one of our many other custom nuclear engineering tech rankings further below.
Mathematical skills are extremely important for this major. Along with this skill, physics plays a major role in this field. The nuclear industry in becoming increasingly significant in our society therefore a love of technology and innovation is extremely important.
Nuclear Engineering Technology integrates knowledge in mathematics and science to the safe applications of nuclear principles; attention to detail and problem solving are critical skills. In order to prepare for this major students are advised to take courses in physics, algebra, and computer science. If possible, an internship would be a positive experience to gain experience for students.
nuclear engineering technology degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. In addition to these basic nuclear engineering technology program qualifications, to serve in some nuclear engineering tech careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of nuclear engineering tech degrees. You can get anything from a in nuclear engineering technology to the highest nuclear engineering tech degree, a . Depending on the nuclear engineering technology degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to nuclear engineering tech, with approximately 36.9% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to nuclear engineering tech tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 37.2% |
| High School Diploma | 30.8% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 18.5% |
| Some College Courses | 7.9% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 6.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in nuclear engineering technology careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the nuclear engineering tech career you are seeking.
Nuclear Technicians operate nuclear research and test equipment, observe radiation, and help nuclear engineers and physicists. In addition, this major allows for a foundation to become a Nuclear medicine technologist. These technicians prepare radioactive drugs and admitters them to patients with ongoing scans.
Want a job when you graduate with your nuclear engineering tech degree?
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to nuclear engineering technology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Technicians | 6,900 | 0.0% |
Recently graduated nuclear engineering technology students earned an average of $84,153 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $84,153 to as high as $84,153. As you might expect, salaries for nuclear engineering tech graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for nuclear engineering technology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers nuclear engineering tech grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Nuclear Technicians | $79,970 |
With over 21 different nuclear engineering tech degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased nuclear engineering tech school rankings to help you with this.
One of 18 majors within the Engineering Technologies area of study, Nuclear Engineering Technology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Industrial Production Technology | 11,906 |
| Electromechanical Engineering Technology | 10,593 |
| Drafting & Design Engineering Technology | 8,964 |
| Environmental Control Technology | 8,690 |
| Electronics Engineering Technology | 8,592 |
