2026 Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nuclear engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools
University Of Florida tops our 2026 list of the best value nuclear engineering schools in the United States. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $58,388. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the best values for nuclear engineering. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,879 in student loans. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $83,560. Set against $24,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value nuclear engineering schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $20,500. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $63,226. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in nuclear engineering will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #4. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,350 in student loans. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $81,134 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,350 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in nuclear engineering will find it at Missouri University Of Science And Technology, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $23,354. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $77,947. Set against $23,354 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #6 position for value in nuclear engineering this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $112,747. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley placed #7 among the best values for nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #8 for value in nuclear engineering this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #9 position for value in nuclear engineering this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $23,250. Nuclear Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $74,540 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #10 spot for nuclear engineering value this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $19,738. Nuclear Engineering graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. Set against $19,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value nuclear engineering schools. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $73,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon State University earned the #12 position for value in nuclear engineering this year. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $69,657 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #13 position for value in nuclear engineering this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,471 in student loans. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $66,604 early in their careers. Set against $18,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in nuclear engineering this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #15 among the best values for nuclear engineering. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,078. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $77,014. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits about 64% of applicants.
Other Nuclear Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Nuclear Engineering rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nuclear engineering education at a price that pays off.
