2027 Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for nuclear engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nuclear engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools
Leading the list is University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus, our #1 best value for nuclear engineering in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $70,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $24,799. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $78,218. Set against $24,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,078. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the nuclear engineering program here. Nuclear Engineering graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $77,014 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
