Nuclear Engineering · Iowa

Nuclear Engineering colleges in Iowa

CampusPin lists 36 U.S. colleges in Iowa that offer Nuclear Engineering programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Nuclear Engineering applies physics and math to harness reactions inside the atom for power and other uses, fitting students drawn to reactors, radiation, and safety systems.

Schools in Iowa that offer Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear Engineering programs in Iowa: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 36 schools listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

36

Public / private

18 / 18

Universities / 2-year

21 / 15

Cities represented

29

In-state tuition range

$2,600–$51,040

Median in-state tuition

$12,982

Lowest published in-state tuition

Southeastern Community College

$2,600

Most selective

St Luke's College

44% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

Iowa State University

29,878 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Nuclear Engineering program

  • Reactor physics and neutron transport theory
  • Thermal-hydraulics and reactor heat transfer
  • Radiation detection, measurement, and instrumentation laboratory
  • Radiation shielding and dose protection
  • Nuclear fuel cycle and waste management
  • Reactor control, instrumentation, and safety systems
  • Nuclear materials and radiation effects on structures
  • Fission and fusion process fundamentals
  • Senior capstone reactor or systems design project

Where a Nuclear Engineering degree can lead

  • Nuclear Engineer
  • Reactor Engineer
  • Radiation Protection Engineer
  • Nuclear Safety Engineer
  • Fuel Cycle Engineer
  • Power Plant Systems Engineer

Typical pay: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 nuclear engineers median $127,520).

Nuclear engineering students learn how energy is released when atomic nuclei split apart or fuse together, then how to control that energy safely and put it to work. Coursework blends reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, and radiation science: you study how neutrons behave inside a reactor core, how heat moves from fuel to coolant, how radiation interacts with materials and living tissue, and how to design the shielding, containment structures, and control and safety systems that keep a plant stable. Unlike mechanical or chemical engineering, which treat heat and reactions in general industrial terms, this field centers specifically on fission and fusion processes, fuel cycles, and radiation protection; and unlike health or medical physics, which focus on clinical use of radiation in patient care, it emphasizes the engineering of reactors, power systems, and nuclear facilities.

In the United States this is most often a four-year bachelor of science, built on a heavy sequence of calculus, differential equations, and physics, with hands-on laboratory work in radiation detection and measurement, often access to a research or training reactor, and a senior capstone design project. Because the work involves regulated radioactive materials, programmatic accreditation and, for some career paths, professional engineering licensure may apply and should be verified with the specific program and state. Graduates work in settings such as commercial power plants, national laboratories, regulatory and safety agencies, naval and defense programs, fuel and waste management organizations, and research groups developing advanced reactor and fusion concepts.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of nuclear engineers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $127,520 and projects employment to decline about 1.1% from 2024 to 2034; a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.

Nuclear Engineering in other states

Other majors in Iowa

Find more Nuclear Engineering schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 36+ Nuclear Engineering programs in Iowa by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

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