2026 Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
[Nuclear Engineering](/majors/engineering/nuclear-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for nuclear engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Nuclear Engineering Schools in the Southeast 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
University Of Florida tops our 2026 list of the best value nuclear engineering schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. 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 the nuclear engineering program here. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #2 place 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, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Typical student debt for nuclear engineering graduates is $24,879. Soon after graduation, nuclear engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Set against $24,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nuclear engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Nuclear Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $74,540 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in nuclear engineering will find it at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Nuclear Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career nuclear engineering graduates make about $73,724. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
