WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+9% vs national median237 grads tracked

Nuclear Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ranked 1st of 11 bachelor's programs in Nuclear Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$79,009
middle 50%: $59,733 – $91,525
Median · 5 years out
$112,487
middle 50%: $87,210 – $140,924
Median · 10 years out
$154,543
middle 50%: $124,051 – $195,809

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Nuclear Engineering (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's bachelor's program in Nuclear Engineering earn a median $79,009 one year after graduating, rising to $154,543 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 9% above the national median of $102,869 for this field, ranking 1st of 11 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
3.8 yrs
≈ $4,107 total interest

Same major at other universities

Georgia Institute of Technology
$108,573 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$106,181 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$104,999 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$104,847 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$102,869 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$102,472 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out

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