100 Best Nuclear Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Nuclear Engineering. A graph of 1.08M citations received by 62.3K academic papers made by 170 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Nuclear Engineering

#1 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

2. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Nuclear Engineering

#2 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Nuclear Engineering

#3 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

4. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Nuclear Engineering

#4 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

5. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Nuclear Engineering

#5 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

6. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Nuclear Engineering

#6 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Nuclear Engineering

#7 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

8. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Nuclear Engineering

#8 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

9. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Nuclear Engineering

#9 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

10. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Nuclear Engineering

#11 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

11. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Nuclear Engineering

#12 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

12. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Nuclear Engineering

#13 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

13. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Nuclear Engineering

#14 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

14. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Nuclear Engineering

#15 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

15. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Nuclear Engineering

#16 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

16. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Nuclear Engineering

#17 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

17. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Nuclear Engineering

#18 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

18. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Nuclear Engineering

#19 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Nuclear Engineering

#20 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

20. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Nuclear Engineering

#21 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

21. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Nuclear Engineering

#22 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

22. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Nuclear Engineering

#24 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

23. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Nuclear Engineering

#25 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

24. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Nuclear Engineering

#27 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

25. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Nuclear Engineering

#28 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

26. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Nuclear Engineering

#29 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

27. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Nuclear Engineering

#30 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

28. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Nuclear Engineering

#31 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

29. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Nuclear Engineering

#32 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

30. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Nuclear Engineering

#33 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

31. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Nuclear Engineering

#34 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

32. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Nuclear Engineering

#37 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

33. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Nuclear Engineering

#38 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

34. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Nuclear Engineering

#39 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

35. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Nuclear Engineering

#41 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

36. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Nuclear Engineering

#42 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 98%

37. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Nuclear Engineering

#44 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

38. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Nuclear Engineering

#46 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

39. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Nuclear Engineering

#47 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

40. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Nuclear Engineering

#50 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

41. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Nuclear Engineering

#51 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

42. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Nuclear Engineering

#52 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

43. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Nuclear Engineering

#53 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

44. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Nuclear Engineering

#54 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

45. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Nuclear Engineering

#55 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

46. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Nuclear Engineering

#56 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

47. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Engineering

#57 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

48. Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois | Chicago

For Nuclear Engineering

#58 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $24,796

49. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Nuclear Engineering

#59 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

50. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Nuclear Engineering

#60 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

51. University of Idaho

Idaho | Moscow

For Nuclear Engineering

#61 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

52. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Nuclear Engineering

#62 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

53. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Nuclear Engineering

#63 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

54. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Nuclear Engineering

#65 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

55. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Nuclear Engineering

#68 in North America

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

56. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Nuclear Engineering

#69 in North America

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

57. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Nuclear Engineering

#71 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

58. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Nuclear Engineering

#72 in North America

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,154

59. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Nuclear Engineering

#73 in North America

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

60. University of Texas at Arlington

Texas | Arlington

For Nuclear Engineering

#74 in North America

#286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

61. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Nuclear Engineering

#75 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

62. University of Nevada - Reno

Nevada | Reno

For Nuclear Engineering

#76 in North America

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

63. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Nuclear Engineering

#77 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

64. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Nuclear Engineering

#79 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

65. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Nuclear Engineering

#80 in North America

#311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 94%

66. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Nuclear Engineering

#81 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

67. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Nuclear Engineering

#82 in North America

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

68. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Nuclear Engineering

#83 in North America

#323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

69. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Nuclear Engineering

#85 in North America

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

70. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Nuclear Engineering

#86 in North America

#329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

71. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Nuclear Engineering

#88 in North America

#345 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

72. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Nuclear Engineering

#89 in North America

#346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

73. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Nuclear Engineering

#90 in North America

#347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

74. University of Dayton

Ohio | Dayton

For Nuclear Engineering

#93 in North America

#368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $32,794

75. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Nuclear Engineering

#94 in North America

#369 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

76. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Nuclear Engineering

#95 in North America

#371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

77. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Nuclear Engineering

#97 in North America

#379 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

78. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Nuclear Engineering

#99 in North America

#385 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

79. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Nuclear Engineering

#100 in North America

#386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

80. Rochester Institute of Technology

New York State | Rochester

For Nuclear Engineering

#101 in North America

#390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,534

81. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Nuclear Engineering

#102 in North America

#393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

82. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Nuclear Engineering

#103 in North America

#396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

83. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Nuclear Engineering

#104 in North America

#404 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

84. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Nuclear Engineering

#105 in North America

#407 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

85. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Nuclear Engineering

#106 in North America

#409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

86. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Nuclear Engineering

#107 in North America

#410 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

87. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Nuclear Engineering

#109 in North America

#414 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

88. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Nuclear Engineering

#110 in North America

#417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

89. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Nuclear Engineering

#111 in North America

#421 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

90. University of Nevada - Las Vegas

Nevada | Las Vegas

For Nuclear Engineering

#112 in North America

#424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 94%

91. United States Naval Academy

Maryland | Annapolis

For Nuclear Engineering

#113 in North America

#439 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 0%

92. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Nuclear Engineering

#115 in North America

#450 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

93. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Engineering

#116 in North America

#452 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

94. University of Alabama in Huntsville

Alabama | Huntsville

For Nuclear Engineering

#117 in North America

#453 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Nuclear Engineering

#118 in North America

#455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

96. Michigan Technological University

Michigan | Houghton

For Nuclear Engineering

#119 in North America

#469 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

97. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Nuclear Engineering

#121 in North America

#490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $10,212
Enrollment: 10,813

98. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Nuclear Engineering

#122 in North America

#500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

99. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Nuclear Engineering

#123 in North America

#512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Net Price: $47,372
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,545

100. University of California - Merced

California | Merced

For Nuclear Engineering

#124 in North America

#523 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $27,292
Enrollment: 9,110

The best cities to study Nuclear Engineering in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Madison, Ann Arbor, and University Park.