nuclear-engineer
Bachelors In

Nuclear Engineering Degrees

The complete guide on what you’ll learn, job prospects, university programs, and saving time and money.

Why We Love It

  • $106,060
    Potential Avg. Salary*

* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172161.htm for 17-2161 Nuclear engineers 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

Nuclear engineers work to understand the practical uses of nuclear reactions, discovering innovative uses for practical application within the utilities, healthcare, defense, marine travel, and waste-disposal industries.

In a bachelor of science in nuclear engineering program, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to work in this exciting field, maintaining and developing systems that harness nuclear energy.

What is a Degree in Nuclear Engineering?

The energy derived from nuclear energy has many practical applications. It’s used for medical treatments and diagnostics in the medical field, to provide regions with energy to power their homes and businesses, and in the development of national defense weapons and vehicles.

In a nuclear engineering program, you’ll gain the knowledge and license needed to find work in this exciting career, working as a nuclear technician to develop, maintain, and innovate on systems that use nuclear energy.

In a nuclear engineering program, you’ll likely choose a concentration on which to focus your studies. Possible concentrations include nuclear energy production, nuclear technology development, nuclear machinery development, and nuclear waste disposal.

You’ll learn how to develop, maintain, and repair nuclear equipment and how to create safe environments for individuals working with nuclear equipment and materials. You may also pursue graduate degrees to qualify for research positions in the field.

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What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Nuclear Engineering?

  • Nuclear Physics
  • Reactor Fundamentals
  • Nuclear Instrumentation and Control
  • Radiation Biophysics
  • Radiation Interaction
  • Radiological, Reactor & Environmental Safety
  • Nuclear Materials
  • Primary Reactor Systems

What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Nuclear Engineering?

Increased regulatory and safety requirements on nuclear power plants have diminishes the growth of opportunities for nuclear engineers for utilities and power plant roles.

However, nuclear engineers are still in high demand within the medical technology field. Graduates of nuclear engineering programs who struggle to find work after college may consider pursuing further education to break into the field of healthcare research as it applies to nuclear technologies to increase their chances of finding work.

How Long does it take?

A bachelors in Nuclear Engineering will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.

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Best Jobs for Nuclear Engineering Degrees

Nuclear engineers can find work in a variety of fields after graduation. Many work in the utilities industry, maintaining and overseeing the equipment and working conditions of nuclear power plans to ensure quality and safety.

Others continue their educations to qualify for roles in healthcare, defense, and aerospace research, working for healthcare technology manufacturers or the federal government.


How to save time and money

Our mission is to help you to avoid paying full price for college. We want your Nuclear Engineering degree to be affordable and accessible. Here’s how you could save:

Create Your Free SmartPlan

There are many ways to make college affordable and accessible.

That’s why we created a helpful tool called SmartPlan.

It’s free, and helps you find potential ways to save and tons of information about each school you’re considering

Think of it as your “college blueprint”, to help you instantly craft a path to your degree:

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  • Free Courses You Could Take for Credit
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See what’s possible for you and generate a free plan within just a few minutes

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