ORISE reports uptick in nuclear engineering master’s degrees

According to the report, the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded by nuclear engineering programs in 2019 was essentially the same as in 2018, but higher than levels reported in 2016 and 2017. The data follow a trend that began in 2012, with more than 600 bachelor’s degrees being awarded annually, significantly higher than the levels reported in the previous decade.

Texas A&M leads the pack: Texas A&M University awarded the largest number of nuclear engineering degrees in 2019, with 80 bachelor’s degrees, 16 master’s degrees, and 17 doctoral degrees, followed by the University of Tennessee, Oregon State University, and Penn State University.

Other stats: The study captured enrollment trends, including an increase in junior and senior undergraduate enrollments of about 3 percent in 2019 compared to 2018, and graduate enrollments in 2019 that were 5 percent lower than graduate enrollments reported in 2018.

ORISE also surveys graduating students about their employment status and plans. Of those students graduating with bachelor’s degrees in 2019, the largest number of responding graduates reported employment in the U.S. military (active duty), followed by employment at nuclear utilities. Among those who earned a master’s or doctoral degree in 2019, the largest number of responding graduates took jobs with Department of Energy contractors.