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Dr. Lisa Marshall is the the president of the American Nuclear Society and has been an active member, with leadership roles, since 2005. With over 20 years of engineering education experience spanning pre-college to graduate studies, Marshall is the inaugural director of outreach, retention, and engagement (starting in 2001), and the inaugural assistant extension professor (starting in 2023) at North Carolina State University Department of Nuclear Engineering.
Dr. Marshall is a member of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Council of Advisers and the NEA High-Level Group on Improving the Gender Balance in the Nuclear Sector. She chairs the NEA Global Forum Working Group on Building a Pipeline of STEM Professionals and sits on the Task Force on Achieving Inclusivity and the Working Group on ‘Rethinking the Relationship between Nuclear Energy and the Society.’
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What is something you wish the public understood about nuclear engineering?
Dr. Marshall: Nuclear engineering is a crucial part of society, advancing and contributing to a safer, cleaner, forward-thinking approach to technological know-how. For example: radioisotopes for food safety, industrial gauges (quality control), non-destructive testing, space exploration, medical diagnostic imaging and treatment methods, and cleaner energy as part of reliable year-round energy supply.
Nuclear science and technology continue to advance low-carbon energy, environmental stewardship, and national security.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What advice would you give to aspiring students in nuclear engineering?
Dr. Marshall: Be prepared for an exciting career that has a monumental impact on lives, industries, and societies. Reach out to such organizations as the American Nuclear Society for a glimpse into the field. Reach out to colleges with nuclear engineering programs to chat with professors and current students. Take advantage of virtual and in-person events to take a glimpse into current and future research and applications. Embrace preparatory courses early and start to think about the challenges they wish to explore.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What does the future of the field look like to you?
Dr. Marshall: The future of nuclear engineering continues to be impactful and exhilarating. There is not a part of our lives it does not improve upon. Future developments in harnessing the atom for humankind is a noble pursuit.
An online nuclear engineering degree can be beneficial to anyone interested in furthering their studies, whether at the undergraduate or graduate degree level. While some programs do have in-person components, more and more are shifting entirely online. The flexibility of location and schedule allows students from all over the US to gain expertise in this highly complex field.
However, like with any other campus-based program, you will still have assignments to be completed by a specific date. You'll also need a certain degree of discipline and commitment to keep pace with your online program. The students that perform best also dedicate a considerable amount to interacting with their peers online and participating in class discussions.
Keep these considerations in mind as you evaluate different online programs and schools for nuclear engineering. To put it simply: online does not mean easy.
Online nuclear engineering programs’ admissions requirements vary by school and degree level. The following criteria are among the most common:
| School | City | State | Website | Undergrad | Graduate | Grads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Knoxville |
TN | www.utk.edu | 99 | |||
Pittsburgh |
PA | www.pitt.edu | 47 | |||
Raleigh |
NC | www.ncsu.edu | 46 | |||
Blacksburg |
VA | www.vt.edu | 5 | |||
University Park |
PA | worldcampus.psu.edu | 4 | |||
Manhattan |
KS | www.k-state.edu | 3 | |||
Scottsdale |
AZ | www.asu.edu | 2 |
Accreditation gives prospective students a sense of an online nuclear engineering program’s quality and reliability. When a school says it is accredited, it means a third-party organization has reviewed its curriculum, practices, and policies and verified they meet certain quality standards.
In most cases, one should be especially conscious of whether a program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as financial aid, graduate program admission, and career prospects may depend upon it. However, there are no ABET-accredited online master’s programs at this time.
Online nuclear engineering degrees should definitely be accredited regionally. Regional accreditors include:
Students can visit the U.S. Department of Education online to learn more about approved accreditation bodies.
Online nuclear engineering courses prepare students for practice or research positions in the nuclear industry but vary from one institution to another. The following are among the most common:
Nuclear engineering curricula include a mix of general education, core, and elective courses. Additionally, program specializations provide a more targeted education in students’ areas of interest. Online nuclear engineering degree specializations include:
The North Carolina State University of Raleigh offers an online master of nuclear engineering degree that is available entirely online, and it requires no thesis, final oral exam, or on-campus residency. Online courses are the same as on-campus courses in terms of requirements, academic rigor, and content.
The major admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in an engineering discipline, an overall GPA of 3.0, three letters of recommendation, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for all international applicants. GRE scores are not required for admission.
The program comprises 30 credits, out of which 15 to 18 must be in nuclear engineering, nine credits must be from outside of nuclear engineering for developing interdisciplinary breadth, and the remaining three must be from a nuclear engineering project. Some courses in the curriculum include reactor engineering; radiation safety and shielding; nuclear materials; nuclear fuel cycles; and radiation and reactor fundamentals.
On successful completion of the program, graduates can take up roles such as nuclear engineers, isotopes and radiation engineers, nuclear licensing engineers, nuclear project engineers, nuclear safety engineers, and nuclear repair engineers, to name a few.
Penn State World Campus of University Park offers an online non-thesis master of engineering in a nuclear engineering program providing students with a flexible and relevant curriculum, the coursework developed by experts in the field. Consistently ranked as one of the best in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report, this online program is identical to the on-campus program and is taught by the same faculty members.
Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or its equivalent, a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, an official transcript from each institution attended, three recommendation letters, a current resume, a statement of purpose, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international applicants. If submitted, GRE test scores are not required for admission but will be considered.
Made up of 30 credits, the program includes courses such as nuclear and radiochemistry; introduction to statistical thermodynamics; nuclear materials; radiological safety; radioactive waste control; power plant simulation; and reactor engineering, among others.
At the end of the program, graduates can pursue opportunities at electrical utility companies, development laboratories, universities and colleges, engineering design firms, nuclear power plants, and factories that make nuclear equipment.
Virginia Tech offers two graduate certificates in nuclear engineering: a graduate certificate in nuclear engineering and a graduate certificate in nuclear science technology and policy (NSTP). These certificates provide students with a solid foundation in nuclear reactor physics. The programs involve additional specialization options in the nuclear fuel cycle, reactor physics, reactor thermal hydraulics, radiation measurements, nuclear power plant operations, or nuclear materials.
The nuclear engineering certificate requires students to have a bachelor of science degree in science or engineering. In contrast, the NSTP graduate certificate requires a bachelor of science degree in a technical or policy discipline. Additional application requirements include college transcripts, letters of recommendation, and TOEFL scores for international students.
The nuclear engineering certificate comprises nine credits, while the NSTP graduate certificate consists of 12 credits. The curriculum includes courses such as nuclear engineering fundamentals; nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards & security; nuclear reactor analysis; nuclear plant systems & operations; and nuclear fuel cycle; among others.
Apart from these certificates, Virginia Tech also offers an online master of engineering (MENG) in nuclear engineering program, which consists of 30 to 33 credits.
The University of Texas launched its online master’s in nuclear and radiation engineering program in 1999, well before most schools. Students can complete courses and laboratory modules online, though they must report to campus twice throughout the program. A separate two-week campus-based intensive is recommended for students considering doctorates, but not required.
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor of science degree in physical sciences or an engineering discipline from an accredited institution, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, letters of recommendation, and TOEFL scores for international students. GRE scores are not optional.
Digitally delivering educational content to online students, the program includes courses such as nuclear power engineering; computational methods in radiation transport; nuclear radiation shielding; nuclear safety and security; mathematical methods for nuclear and radiation engineers; and design of nuclear systems, among others.
Educating the next generation of leaders in nuclear science and engineering, this program prepares students to conduct leading research at the forefront of the nuclear community and apply nuclear technology for solving multidisciplinary problems.
Purdue University has an online master of nuclear engineering degree created with working professionals in mind. Purdue's School of Nuclear Engineering has been consistently ranked among the top nuclear engineering graduate programs by the U.S. News & World Report. Offering a wide variety of flexible course options, this 30-credit program is taught by the same renowned faculty members who teach on campus.
To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program or one with equivalent standards.
The program includes coursework in nuclear engineering principles; nuclear reactor theory; mass, momentum, and energy transfer in energy systems; nuclear engineering systems; fuzzy approaches in engineering; neural computers in engineering; and big data and machine learning in engineering.
Graduates will be ready for positions such as nuclear engineers, isotopes and radiation engineers, nuclear licensing engineers, nuclear project engineers, nuclear operations and power engineers, nuclear repair engineers, nuclear systems engineers, and nuclear safety engineers.
Texas A&M University’s nuclear engineering department offers an online master of engineering in nuclear engineering that has the same quality and outcomes and is taught by the same faculty members as the on-campus program.
Applicants holding a bachelor of science degree in engineering or qualified seniors who are in the last semester of their program are eligible candidates for this non-thesis master of engineering program in nuclear engineering. GRE scores are not required for admission.
The curriculum includes courses such as nuclear reactor theory; radiation interactions and shielding; radiation detection and nuclear materials measurement; reactor analysis and experimentation; fast spectrum systems and applications; nuclear reactor safety; design of nuclear reactors; and radiological safety and hazards evaluation.
The University of South Carolina offers an online master of engineering non-thesis program in nuclear engineering as well as a master of science program in nuclear engineering which requires a 6-credit thesis. The ME program will prepare students to tackle difficult projects, develop designs, solve problems, and make impactful decisions, while graduates of the MS degree will have the necessary skills required for professional development and life-long learning. Both programs require the completion of 30 credits.
The curriculum includes courses such as introduction to nuclear engineering; nuclear fuel cycles; radiation shielding; nuclear reactor systems; instrumentation for nuclear engineering; introduction to nuclear safeguards; introduction to nuclear materials; thermal-hydraulic design of nuclear reactors; advanced nuclear engineering; and safety analysis for energy systems.
Online nuclear engineering programs make degrees and certificates more accessible but do not necessarily spare students from all campus visits. Online schools may require students to attend on-site intensives, exams, presentations, and other tasks. These visits are usually short and sparse, up to two per year. Students researching online nuclear engineering degrees should prepare for any on-site requirements before applying to programs.
Lastly, distance-based students may only attend programs that admit students from their state of residence. An online program’s “state authorization” status is typically listed on a school’s website (e.g., Penn State World Campus). For those who don’t have the information, prospective students should contact admissions offices to ensure eligibility.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), the career outlook for nuclear engineers is in decline, with overall employment in nuclear engineering occupations projected to drop 1 percent in the next decade, compared to an average increase of 4 percent for all occupations from 2023 to 2033.
On average, nuclear engineers earn $126,950 per year. As of February 2025, the latest percentiles for wages for nuclear engineers are:
Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about a wide range of engineering disciplines, with a particular focus on the potential impacts of major technological breakthroughs. His work largely centers around conversations with engineeri...
From radiological medicine and power generation to national defense and hydrogen cell creation, it is difficult to overstate the impact nuclear engineers can have on our world and lives. Meet these exceptional professors of nuclear engineering.