<p>I'm interested in majoring in Nuclear Engineering. As I've researched colleges that offer this major, there's only a few that offer a 4-year degree in Nuclear Engineering. What colleges are the best for Nuclear Engineering? So far I've looked into MIT, UMich, GT, and NC State. </p>
<p>Also, does anyone have an opinion on going into a 4-year Nuclear Engineering degree vs a 4-year mechanical engineering degree and then Nuclear Engineering for grad school?</p>
<p>Thanks!!
Michael</p>
<p>Wisconsin has one. Getting more popular.</p>
<p>Take a look at the various NE graduate departments to see what their undergraduate expectations are for applicants to their PhD programs. If considering the non-NE undergraduate to NE PhD route, you may want to check whether the non-NE undergraduate programs allow for suitable electives to prepare for NE PhD programs.</p>
<p>However, if you want to go to work in the nuclear industry rather than study toward a PhD, it would likely be better to just get a bachelor’s degree in NE at one of the 20 schools that offers it (though another possibility is majoring in a non-NE major like ME or EE at one of those schools but take some NE courses as electives).</p>
<p>My husband has a Mech. Engineering degree from NC State. He has worked in a nuclear power plant for 31 years.</p>
<p>These schools have ABET-accredited bachelor’s programs in nuclear engineering:</p>
<p>Georgia Institute of Technology
Idaho State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Missouri University of Science and Technology
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Oregon State University
Pennsylvania State University
Purdue University at West Lafayette
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
South Carolina State University
Texas A&M University
United States Military Academy
University of California, Berkeley
University of Florida
University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Michigan
University of New Mexico
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
University of Wisconsin - Madison</p>
<p>What do you want to do with respect to nuclear engineering?
I have a family member with a very similar story.</p>
<p>I think I want to work as an engineer in the control room, or a similar job. My dad has recently gone back to college to work in the nuclear industry and it seems really interesting. He also says the company gives great benefits.</p>
<p>I know this article is a bit old, but it speaks to the demand in the industry:</p>
<p>[Alarm</a> over shortage of nuclear experts - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/04/03/alarm_over_shortage_of_nuclear_experts/]Alarm”>http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/04/03/alarm_over_shortage_of_nuclear_experts/)</p>
<p>Another article with a link to a GAO report:</p>
<p>[Nuclear</a> Security Administration Faces Personnel Shortage, Puts Partial Blame on Lack of Social Media Access](<a href=“http://www.clearancejobs.com/defense-news/655/nuclear-security-administration-faces-personnel-shortage-puts-partial-blame-on-lack-of-social-media-access]Nuclear”>Nuclear Security Administration Faces Personnel Shortage, Puts Partial Blame on Lack of Social Media Access - ClearanceJobs)</p>
<p>Looking sideways from Nuke Engineering, you could go into the research side at Reed, the only student run reactor in the US. [Reed</a> College | Reed Research Reactor | About the Reed Reactor](<a href=“http://reactor.reed.edu/about.html]Reed”>About the Reed Reactor - Reed Research Reactor - Reed College)</p>
<p>My opinion is get a degree in a more traditional, broad-based engineering discipline like mechanical or electrical engineering. It’ll open more opportunities in different industries - especially since nuclear future is uncertain, unfortunately. Utilities hire mechanical or electrical engineers all the time…if you find yourself working in a nuclear power plant, then perhaps go back for a grad degree in nuclear engineering.</p>