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
Nuclear Engineering graduates from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn $79k in year one. Median earnings reach $155k by year ten.
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
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$99,617 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$98,905 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$90,230 · 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
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
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$120,803 · 5 yrs out
Related fields of study
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Compare universities
Agricultural Engineering
Compare universities
Architectural Engineering
Compare universities
Biochemical Engineering
Compare universities
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
Compare universities
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Compare universities