by our College Data Analytics TeamNuclear Physics was the 1,404 most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 3 degrees in this year alone. This 3 less than the prior year, a decrease of 100.0%.
This year's Best Nuclear Physics Schools ranking compares 1 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom nuclear physics rankings further below.
When studying Nuclear Physics, you’ll learn that using scientific rules and methods to solve problems will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
nuclear physics 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. Specific nuclear physics careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of nuclear physics degrees. Nuclear Physics programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest nuclear physics degree you can get. Nuclear Physics programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| 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 |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to nuclear physics, with approximately 34.3% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for nuclear physics workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 39.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 22.2% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 18.4% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 16.1% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 2.5% |
53.2% of nuclear physics workers have at least a doctorate. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in nuclear physics have received.
This of course varies depending on which nuclear physics career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your nuclear physics degree? Nuclear Physics careers are expected to grow 10.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to nuclear physics.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Physicists | 20,500 | 14.5% |
| Physics Postsecondary Professors | 19,400 | 10.2% |
As you might expect, salaries for nuclear physics graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for nuclear physics graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers nuclear physics grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Physicists | $125,280 |
| Physics Postsecondary Professors | $103,830 |
With over 3 different nuclear physics 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 physics school rankings to help you with this.
One of 8 majors within the Physics area of study, Nuclear Physics has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Physics | 12,875 |
| Other Physics | 467 |
| Optics/Optical Sciences | 196 |
| Acoustics | 96 |
| Theoretical & Mathematical Physics | 19 |
Image Credit: By A. T. Service under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
