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Nuclear engineering is a vast and powerful field that goes beyond providing power for electrical consumption. Nuclear technology impacts our everyday lives in various ways, including our health and safety. Nuclear engineers, in addition to operating nuclear energy plants, are also great contributors to finding ways to treat illnesses, preparing food, and creating safety rules using radiation.
Nuclear engineering is a very complicated field of Engineering that requires advanced education. A Master’s in Nuclear Engineering will enhance your knowledge and problem-solving abilities to solve current nuclear power issues and develop new technologies. It’s also a strategic way to expand your career opportunities into other fields like healthcare, environmental protection, or even space exploration.
Program Overview
| School | Program | Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Standout Program feature/s |
| Purdue University | Master of Nuclear Engineering | – $34,170 total (resident) – $42,770 total (non-resident) | 47% | Allows online students to transfer to on-campus learning to pursue a thesis |
| Pennsylvania State University – World Campus | Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering | $1,132 per credit | 24% | Gives online students access to the country’s longest-licensed university research reactor |
| North Carolina State University | Master of Nuclear Engineering | – $525.50 per credit (resident) – $1,635.17 per credit (non-resident) | 47% | Emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, requiring students to pursue courses beyond nuclear engineering |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Master of Science in Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering | $842 per credit hour | 93% | – Includes business and manufacturing topics – Boasts one of the highest acceptance rates |
| Texas A&M University | Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering | – $717.89 per credit (resident) – $1,247.40 per credit (non-resident) | 64% | Offers a comprehensive curriculum covering computational methods, health physics, material science, nuclear power, and security. |
5 Best Online Master’s in Nuclear Engineering
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
Online Master of Nuclear Engineering
| Tuition | $34,170 total (resident) $42,770 total (non-resident) |
| Credit Hour | 30 |
Purdue University’s online Master of Nuclear Engineering program is very flexible, allowing students to study at their own pace. It offers a practice-based curriculum designed for professionals who want to enhance their technical skills in nuclear engineering.
The Purdue online MNE is a non-thesis program. However, you can pursue a thesis track by switching to on-campus learning after completing the required courses. Transferring from online to on-campus learning to pursue a thesis will require you to meet certain SNE transfer requirements and find an SNE research advisor and funding support.
Some of the program’s core courses include:
- Engineering Design: A Decision-Based Perspective
- Neural Computing In Engineering
- Big Data and Machine Learning in Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering Systems
Pennsylvania State University – World Campus
University Park, PA
Online Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering
| Tuition | $1,132 per credit |
| Credit Hour | 30 |
Penn State World Campus is one of the largest online schools in the country, offering hundreds of online degree programs, including an online MEng in Nuclear Engineering. As a non-thesis degree program, online students will concentrate on course-based learning.
One of the main features of this online nuclear engineering program is that it encourages students to participate in university research. Penn State’s Breazeale Nuclear Reactor is the country’s longest-licensed university research reactor.
Students gain a distinct proficiency in the following areas:
- Materials for Nuclear Power
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle
- Nuclear Security
- Radiation Detection and Imaging
- Radioisotopes and Radiochemistry
- Reactor Thermal Hydraulics
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC
Online Master of Nuclear Engineering
| Tuition | $525.50 per credit (resident) $1,635.17 per credit (non-resident) |
| Credit Hour | 30 |
The online Master of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University boasts a unique university nuclear reactor program and research opportunities in various areas. This includes extreme environments, fission, fusion, industrial plasma processes, and radiation physics.
Depending on the student’s pace, it can be completed in as few as 15 months or as long as 2.5 years. On top of completing the core curriculum courses, students must pursue courses outside the field to develop interdisciplinary breadth.
Some of the program’s core courses include:
- Nuclear Fuel Cycles
- Nuclear Materials
- Radiation and Reactor Fundamentals
- Radiation Safety and Shielding
- Reactor Engineering
- Reactor Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Online Master of Science – Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
| Tuition | $842 per credit hour |
| Credit Hour | 30 |
If you’re looking for a broader master’s degree, you can consider Virginia Commonwealth University’s online MS in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering program. The curriculum aims to equip graduate students with a comprehensive foundation in both engineering fields. You can expect to encounter business and manufacturing topics.
VCU’s MS in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering is one of the most sought-after programs for students who plan on pursuing a doctorate in the future. An in-depth research experience is a cornerstone of the program. It encourages students to contribute to cutting-edge developments in the field by advancing their expertise.
The core curriculum consists of these courses:
- Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis
- Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics
- Topics in Nuclear Engineering
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
Online Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering
| Tuition | $717.89 per credit (resident) $1,247.40 per credit (non-resident) |
| Credit Hour | 30 |
Texas A&M University has an excellent reputation for housing some of the best and most recent engineering technologies. Its online MEng in Nuclear Engineering degree program offers online students the same access and academic rigor as their on-campus peers.
The program’s curriculum offers comprehensive, advanced principles and practices in nuclear engineering technology. While this is practice-based learning, online students are still given the opportunity to participate in some of the department’s research areas, which include health and medical physics, nuclear power engineering, and nuclear security research.
As a student in TAMU’s online MEng in Nuclear Engineering, you can expect to develop proficiency in the following areas:
- Computational Methods and Applications
- Health Physics
- Material Science and Engineering
- Nuclear Power
- Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do Nuclear Engineers Do?
Nuclear engineering is one of the most important fields today. It’s an interdisciplinary field that plays a big part in addressing some of the most pressing modern challenges, including energy security, climate change, and the need for advanced healthcare technologies.
Nuclear engineering aims to use the power of atomic nuclei for a range of purposes, from producing energy to providing medical care. It includes all of the procedures, frameworks, and methods required to handle nuclear energy and radiation safely.
Nuclear engineers have various opportunities to specialize. Depending on their industry and area of expertise, nuclear engineers work on a wide range of projects and duties.
Common responsibilities include:
- designing nuclear power plants
- conducting research for safety and efficiency
- developing radiation shielding measures
- analyzing experiments
- collaborating with scientists and other engineers
- ensuring regulatory compliance
Is a Master’s in Nuclear Engineering Worth It?
Although it requires additional time and financial commitments, earning a master’s degree in nuclear engineering is worth it. The field of nuclear engineering is very complex. While a bachelor’s degree tends to be the minimal qualification, many employers prefer applicants with an advanced degree, like a master’s or doctorate.
According to Payscale.com, master’s in nuclear engineering graduates have an average of $100,000 base pay per year, while those with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $90,000.
What Can I Do with a Master’s in Nuclear Engineering Degree?
A master’s in nuclear engineering covers various advanced topics in nuclear physics, radiation protection, reactor engineering, and materials science. Because of the advanced and specialized knowledge you gain, you have a lot of career opportunities at hand. Instead of being restricted to one area of nuclear engineering, your expertise opens doors to various sectors where nuclear technology is applied.
Some of the most common career fields you can break into using a master’s in nuclear engineering degree include:
- Fuel management and development
- Health Physics
- Medical isotope production
- Fusion research
- Space nuclear power
- Environmental protection and remediation
- Research and development in government laboratories or private industry
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