Nuclear Engineering

What you'll do in college

Nuclear engineering majors study the physics and engineering of nuclear reactions—fission, fusion, and radioactive decay—and how to harness them safely. Coursework includes reactor physics, radiation detection and measurement, nuclear materials, thermal hydraulics, health physics, and heavy doses of math and physics. Labs involve working with radiation sources, neutron activation analysis, and reactor simulations.

Many programs have access to a campus research reactor, giving students hands-on experience few other engineering majors can match. Senior design projects often involve designing a reactor component, modeling fuel cycles, or developing radiation shielding for medical or space applications.

What you'll do after college

Grads work at nuclear utilities, national laboratories (like Oak Ridge, Idaho National Lab, and Argonne), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Navy's nuclear propulsion program, defense contractors, and an expanding wave of startups building small modular reactors and fusion devices. Day-to-day work mixes simulation, safety analysis, materials testing, and regulatory compliance.

Pay is among the highest in engineering, and demand is rising as countries invest in nuclear power for clean energy and as the existing fleet of reactors needs experienced engineers to operate and eventually decommission. Many grads pursue graduate degrees to specialize in fusion, medical physics, or nonproliferation.

Famous graduates

• Alvin Weinberg — Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and champion of the molten salt reactor; Ph.D. in Mathematical Biophysics from University of Chicago
• Amanda Johnsen = Prominent Penn State researcher, B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from MIT
• Alan Icenhour - Former Deputy Lab Director at ORNL, B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from NC State
• John E. Kelly - Former Chief Technology Officer at the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Michigan

Selectivity vs. earnings