List of Bachelors in Nuclear Engineering Programs – Campus & Online

A Bachelors in Nuclear Engineering is a great place to start if you have a passion for physics and mathematics, and want to have the opportunity to make an impact with those skills. Nuclear power is often explained as “a fancy way to boil water,” and part of a nuclear engineer’s job is to know how to safely operate and maintain the advanced technologies that make nuclear power possible like fission and fusion power generators. Nuclear engineers can also work in nuclear medicine, on deep-space probes and propulsion systems, semiconductor device processes, and so much more.

Where Can I Earn My Bachelors in Nuclear Engineering Degree?

While you’re listening to the podcast, check out our list of schools with nuclear engineering programs in the US. For each school, we provide a few highlights, including program offerings, course breakdown, and accreditation.

Click on the links below to jump to a specific state’s programs. You can also skip ahead to our Quick Facts about a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering, or information about degree types and accreditation.

Online Sponsored Programs

Grantham University Accredited by DEAC Click To Request Info »

“The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management Technology integrates the broader issues of business with the fundamentals and challenges of technological development and change. The program is designed for the student who anticipates or desires increasing roles of managerial responsibility within a technical environment.”

Kansas State Polytechnic Accredited by HLC Click To Request Info »

“Built on a strong foundation of science, mathematics and practical courses, students learn concepts in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program that can be directly applied to product design and manufacturing in all types of industry. You will focus on technical graphics with computer-aided drafting, material strength and testing, computer numerical control, economics, quality control and machine design.”

Back to top

California

University of California Berkley Accredited by WASC

At the University of California Berkeley, students can earn an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering, a program that is designed to prepare students for a career in industry, national laboratories, or in state or federal regulatory agencies. The program leads to a BS in Nuclear Engineering.

Back to top

Florida

University of Florida Accredited by SACS

The University of Florida offers an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering through the Department of Material Sciences and Engineering. The program is designed to provide students with a strong academic background that enables them to pursue professional careers in nuclear and radiation-based industries.

Back to top

Georgia

Georgia Tech Accredited by SACS

The Woodruff School at Georgia Tech offers students the opportunity to earn a degree in Nuclear and Radiological Engineering. Students earn a BS in Nuclear and Radiological Engineering upon successful completion of the required courses. Students participate in undergraduate research, study abroad, work abroad, internships, co-operative work assignments and the BS/MS program.

Back to top

Idaho

Idaho State University Accredited by NWCCU

Idaho State University offers a BS program in Nuclear Engineering, a program that is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The program is designed to produce nuclear engineers who will make significant contributions to the world nuclear enterprise, specifically careers associated with nuclear reactors, the nuclear fuel cycle, and other applications of nuclear technology.

Back to top

Illinois

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Accredited by HLC

The BS in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering (NPRE) degree program at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, provides students with a solid foundation in basic sciences, engineering sciences, digital computer use, and nuclear energy systems. In this program, students have the opportunity to take classes like Radiation Protection, Design in NPRE, and Neutron Diffusion and Transport.

Back to top

Indiana

Purdue University Accredited by HLC

Purdue University’s BS in Nuclear Engineering degree program is designed to prepare students for graduate studies and careers in nuclear power generation, medicine, national defense, space technologies, plasmas, or industrial processes. This program consists of 131 credits, with 56 credits dedicated to nuclear engineering-related courses. Students can take classes like Nuclear Materials Laboratory, Thermodynamics, and Engineering of Nuclear Power Systems.

Back to top

Kansas

Grantham University Accredited by DEAC	“The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management Technology integrates the broader issues of business with the fundamentals and challenges of technological development and change. The program is designed for the student who anticipates or desires increasing roles of managerial responsibility within a technical environment.”
Kansas State Polytechnic Accredited by HLC	“Built on a strong foundation of science, mathematics and practical courses, students learn concepts in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program that can be directly applied to product design and manufacturing in all types of industry. You will focus on technical graphics with computer-aided drafting, material strength and testing, computer numerical control, economics, quality control and machine design.”
Kansas State University Accredited by HLC	At Kansas State University, students can earn a BS in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering degree that is designed to prepare them for graduate study and a career in this industry. The curriculum begins with a foundation of mathematics, sciences, and engineering principles, working up to advanced nuclear and mechanical engineering courses, and ending with an industrial design project.

Back to top

Maryland

United States Naval Academy Accredited by MSCHE

The baccalaureate degree in nuclear engineering at the United States Naval Academy is designed to prepare graduates for careers in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, operating and maintaining highly technical systems like sea billets, submarines, surface nuclear ships, and aircraft squadrons. Students can take classes in areas like health physics, radiation instrumentation and measurement, and nuclear proliferation.

Back to top

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Accredited by NEASC

MIT’s BS in Nuclear Science and Engineering degree aims to prepare students for graduate study, and careers in this industry like designing and analyzing radiation systems operations. In this program, students can take classes like Neutron Science and Reactor Physics, Nuclear Materials, Fusion Energy, and Materials in Extreme Environments.

University of Massachusetts Lowell Accredited by NEASC

At UMass Lowell, students can earn an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, and concentrate in nuclear engineering. This degree is designed to prepare students to work in this field in areas like economical operations of nuclear power plants and processing facilities, improving plant performance, designing new facilities, safely disposing of nuclear waste, or applying nuclear technology to the medical industry.

Back to top

Michigan

University of Michigan Accredited by HLC

The first two years of the University of Michigan’s Nuclear Engineering undergraduate degree program focuses on building a foundation in physics, math, chemistry, computing, and engineering principles. This prepares students for the latter half of the program, where students can take nuclear engineering courses like Fluid Mechanical Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Reactor Theory, and Problems in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Science.

Back to top

Missouri

Missouri University of Science and Technology Accredited by HLC

The BS in Nuclear Engineering at Missouri S&T is designed to prepare students to pursue graduate study and careers in nuclear engineering and work in areas like national laboratories, hospitals, graduate schools, and government agencies. Students can take a variety of engineering design-based classes that cover topics like reactor cooling systems, nuclear reactor cores, and radiation protection, detection, and measurement.

Back to top

New Jersey

Thomas Edison State University Accredited by MSCHE

At Thomas Edison State University, the BS in Nuclear Energy Engineering Technology program focuses on enhancing students’ understanding of engineering principles and how they affect nuclear power generation. This program consists of a minimum of 126 credits, and students can take classes like Primary Reactor Systems, Fluid Mechanics, Nuclear Materials, and Radiation Analysis Lab.

Back to top

New Mexico

University of New Mexico Accredited by HLC

The BS in Nuclear Engineering degree at the University of New Mexico focuses on providing academic, research, and hands-on opportunities to prepare students for graduate studies and careers related to nuclear science and engineering. In this program, students can take classes like Nuclear Materials Engineering, Monte Carlo Techniques for Nuclear Systems, Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, and Radiation Detection and Measurement.

Back to top

New York

Excelsior College Accredited by MSCHE

Excelsior College has several BS in Nuclear Engineering programs, a general nuclear engineering program, one with a concentration in Nuclear Cybersecurity, and another with a focus on Nuclear Leadership. Core courses required for each of these programs include Electrical Theory, Heat Transfer, Reactor Core Fundamentals, and Radiation Measurement Lab.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Accredited by MSCHE

Students in RPI’s BS in Nuclear Engineering program can pursue a variety of concentrations including fission reactor physics, reactor engineering, health physics, reliability and safety, reactor materials, and thermal-hydraulics. In this program, students can take courses like Radiological Engineering, Nuclear Instrumentation and Measurement, and Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, along with a senior design project class.

Back to top

North Carolina

North Carolina State University Accredited by SACS

At North Carolina State University, students can earn a BS in Nuclear Engineering degree that aims to prepare students to pursue graduate studies and careers in the field of nuclear science and engineering. Students in this program can interact with the PULSTAR research reactor, and can take classes like Nuclear Reactor Energy Conversion and Radiation Safety and Shielding.

Back to top

Oregon

Oregon State University Accredited by NWCCU

Oregon State University’s BS in Nuclear Engineering degree program is designed to prepare students for a variety of graduate study and career opportunities in nuclear engineering areas like power generation, medicine, and radioactive waste management. This program is split into two sections, pre-engineering for the first two years of the program and pro-engineering for the last two years.

Back to top

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State University Accredited by MSCHE

The BS in Nuclear Engineering degree program at Pennsylvania State University is designed to prepare students to pursue graduate studies and careers related to nuclear power engineering. The curriculum focuses on providing a foundation in mathematics, sciences, engineering sciences, and computer programing, then moving onto subjects like reactor theory and engineering, heat and fluids behavior, and radiation measurement.

Temple University Accredited by MSCHE

“The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology in the College of Engineering emphasizes the practical over the theoretical. The 124-credit hour degree requires the study of basic differentiation and integration in calculus and applied engineering statistics. Students focus on hands-on, real-world technology solutions.”

Back to top

South Carolina

South Carolina State University Accredited by SACS

At South Carolina State University, students can earn a BS in Nuclear Engineering is designed to prepare students for graduate studies and careers in this field. This program also focuses on teaching students to be aware of the societal, environmental, legal, and ethical impacts of engineering solutions. Coursework for this program includes Nuclear Energy, Ionizing Radiation, and Nuclear Reactor Lab.

University of South Carolina Accredited by SACS

The accelerated BS/MS in Nuclear Engineering degree program at the University of South Carolina is designed to prepare students to work in areas like electrical power generation, nuclear safety, materials science and engineering, space power and propulsion, and medical and radiological sciences. Students in this program can take classes like Nuclear Fuel Cycles and Radiation Detection and Instrumentation.

Back to top

Tennessee

University of Tennessee Knoxville Accredited by SACS

Students at the University of Tennessee Knoxville can purse a standard undergraduate Nuclear Engineering degree, a BS in Nuclear Engineering degree with a Radiological concentration, or the accelerated BS/MS in Nuclear Engineering five-year program. In these programs, students can take classes like Thermal Science, Radiological Engineering Laboratory, and Reactor Systems and Safety.

Back to top

Texas

Texas A&M University Accredited by SACS

Texas A&M University’s BS in Nuclear Engineering degree program aims to prepare students for careers in nuclear energy production, space applications, and radiological health technologies. This program consists of a minimum of 128 credit hours, and includes courses like Nuclear Reactor Analysis, Nuclear Engineering Experiments, and Nuclear Detection and Isotope Technology Laboratory.

Back to top

Virginia

Virginia Commonwealth University Accredited by SACS

At VCU, students can earn a BS in Mechanical Engineering – Nuclear Engineering concentration degree that is designed to provide math, science, engineering, analytical, and communication skills, along with an environmental and societal awareness of the effects of engineering solutions. Coursework for this program includes Energy Conversion Systems and Nuclear Reactor Control and Dynamics.

Back to top

Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin Madison Accredited by HLC

The BS in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Wisconsin Madison focuses on nuclear physics, reactor physics, thermohydraulics, materials, and environmental issues to prepare students to work at a reactor owner, operator, or vendor. Students will interact with the TRIGA reactor in two of the lab-based classes, and can take other courses like Ionizing Radiation and Principles of Corrosion.

Back to top

Bachelors in Nuclear Engineering Quick Facts

Here is a brief snapshot of what to expect and look forward to with a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering.

Quick Facts
Common Pre-Enrollment Requirements:	High School Diploma or GED (associate’s degree is optional)
Common Core Subjects Covered:	Nuclear Materials, Fusion Energy, Reactor Systems, Thermodynamics, Radiation Protection/Detection/Measurement
Non-Classwork Required:	None (internship is strongly recommended)
Expected Time to Complete Bachelor’s Degree:	4 years
Common Next Steps:	Entry-Level Position, Master’s Degree
Most Common Career Fields:	Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Technology, Radiation Systems, Medicine, Space Technology, National Defense

Exploring Degree Types and Accreditation

Here are how undergraduate nuclear engineering programs are typically offered and structured:

• BS in Nuclear Engineering – a four-year program focusing on mathematics, sciences, and fundamental engineering principles, along with conceptual and applied aspects of nuclear engineering like thermodynamics, reactor systems, and radiation detection
• BS in Nuclear and “Other” Engineering – a four-year program focusing mathematics, sciences, and fundamental engineering principles, along with conceptual and applied aspects of nuclear engineering and whichever other specialized field of engineering that is offered in the same degree program such as mechanical, plasma, and/or radiological engineering
• BS/MS in Nuclear Engineering – a five-year program that grants both a bachelors and a masters degree in nuclear engineering, and begins with fundamental mathematics, sciences, and engineering principles, and concludes with advanced conceptual and applied aspects of nuclear engineering like thermodynamics, reactor systems, and radiation detection

Accreditation is important for all degrees, ensuring you receive a qualified education. The accrediting bodies featured in our list are:

[sc name=”content-dfw” title=”Find A Bachelors In Engineering Degree” link=”https://www.elearners.com/a/yescollege/search/programs?level=3&subject=685″ intro=”Research your Bachelors in Engineering options with our database of over 240 schools. Search by subject, tuition, campus or online to find a program that fits your needs.”]