Master of Nuclear Engineering
Purdue’s online Master of Nuclear Engineering (MNE) program equips engineers with advanced knowledge in nuclear reactor theory, radiation transport, safety and design. Taught by world-renowned faculty, this flexible, 100% online program allows professionals to enhance their expertise while continuing their careers. Graduates gain the skills to innovate in nuclear energy, medicine, security and other critical fields.
Master of Nuclear Engineering
Purdue’s online Master of Nuclear Engineering (MNE) program equips engineers with advanced knowledge in nuclear reactor theory, radiation transport, safety and design. Taught by world-renowned faculty, this flexible, 100% online program allows professionals to enhance their expertise while continuing their careers. Graduates gain the skills to innovate in nuclear energy, medicine, security and other critical fields.
Master of Nuclear Engineering Overview
Purdue University’s online Master of Nuclear Engineering (MNE) program provides engineers with a top-ranked education to advance their expertise in the evolving field of nuclear energy. Nuclear engineers play a critical role in applying nuclear technology across various sectors, including power generation, medical diagnostics, food production, national defense and nuclear waste management. With nuclear power generating 20% of the U.S. utility-scale electricity, nuclear engineering remains essential to ensuring the safety, efficiency and sustainability of these systems.
Purdue’s rigorous curriculum covers fundamental and advanced topics such as reactor theory, radiation transport, nuclear safety and design, equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to address industry challenges and drive innovation. Designed for working professionals, this flexible, 100% online program delivers the same high-quality education as Purdue’s on-campus program, with courses taught by the same esteemed faculty.
Students benefit from a comprehensive learning experience that combines theoretical foundations with real-world applications, preparing them to lead advancements in nuclear energy and related fields. Whether seeking to enhance their current roles or explore new career opportunities, graduates of Purdue’s online MNE program gain the expertise to make a meaningful impact in industries that rely on nuclear technology for energy production, safety, and national security.
Master Advanced Technical Expertise
A degree in Nuclear Engineering provides students with a deep understanding of nuclear systems, radiation physics, and reactor technology. This program equips professionals with the technical knowledge needed to design, operate, and maintain nuclear facilities safely and efficiently, preparing them for roles in energy production, research, and defense applications.
Expand Career Opportunities in High-Demand Fields
Graduates with a nuclear engineering degree are in demand across a variety of sectors, including energy, healthcare, government, and defense. This degree opens doors to careers such as reactor design, nuclear safety, radiation protection, and research, positioning students for leadership roles in both established and emerging industries.
Contribute to Innovation and Safety
Nuclear engineering emphasizes innovation while maintaining rigorous safety standards. Students learn to apply advanced technologies to improve energy efficiency, develop medical applications, and support national security initiatives, enabling them to make meaningful contributions to society while addressing critical technical challenges.
For many professionals, earning a master’s degree can provide a big return-on-investment. In addition to financial benefits like salary increases and promotions, master’s degrees also help professionals learn in-demand skills, which can improve their job prospects, help them pivot to a new industry, or help them stay competitive in a rapidly changing market.
Many employers value the advanced skills that master’s programs teach, and research shows that job candidates with master’s degrees have average salary increases from 25% to more than 75% in select fields. Ask your enrollment counselor for details on Purdue’s online master’s programs or learn more about the benefits of earning a master’s here.
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Plan Your Path
The cost of attending Purdue varies depending on where you choose to live, enrollment in a specific program or college, food and travel expenses, and other variables. The Office of the Bursar website shows estimated costs for the current aid year for students by semester and academic year. These amounts are used in determining a student’s estimated eligibility for financial aid. You can also use our tuition calculator to estimate tuition costs.
More information on courses and faculty can be found at the program website.
Required courses
- NUCL50100 – Nuclear Engineering Principles
- NUCL51000 – Nuclear Reactor Theory
- NUCL55100 – Mass, Momentum, and Energy Transfer in Energy Systems
9 additional credit hours in any of the following Nuclear Engineering Courses
- NUCL50200 Nuclear Engineering Systems
- NUCL57000 Fuzzy Approaches in Engineering
- NUCL57500 – Neural Computer in Engineering
- NUCL 59700 Big Data and Machine Learning in Engineering
12 credit hours of any 500 and 600 level Engineering, Maths or Science Courses.
6 credit hours can be used toward a project course concerning a nuclear engineering area with a faculty advisor.
Admissions Criteria
- 3.0 GPA – B.S. in Nuclear Engineering, related Engineering, or Physics
- Admission requires approval of Graduate Committee
Application Requirements
- Transcripts from all universities attended
- Diploma
- 3 recommendation letters
- Academic Statement of Purpose
- A professional resume
- English Proficiency Exam
- Math prerequisite checklist, if applicable
- Full admissions requirements
Source: LightcastTM (2025). Unique job postings for July 2024-25. Projected growth for years 2019-2029.
Top Job Titles
Nuclear engineering prepares professionals for a wide range of technical and leadership roles within energy, research, and defense sectors. These include Mechanical Engineers, Engineering Managers, and Project Engineers, each contributing essential expertise to the design, operation, and maintenance of nuclear systems. Additionally, Mechanical Design Engineers and Principal Mechanical Engineers play key roles in developing advanced technologies, ensuring safety, and overseeing complex engineering projects.
Top Industries
Several major industries offer strong career opportunities for professionals in nuclear engineering. These include Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing and Engineering Services, both of which rely on specialized engineering expertise to develop and maintain advanced systems. Additionally, Aircraft Manufacturing depends on nuclear engineers to support design, safety, and technological innovation across complex aerospace projects.
Tetyana Martin Becomes Purdue School of Nuclear Engineering’s First Online Master of Nuclear Engineering Graduate
Tetyana Martin has become the first graduate of Purdue University’s online Master of Nuclear Engineering program. Born in Ukraine near a nuclear power plant, she developed an early interest in nuclear technology. After earning a master’s degree in education and moving to the United States, Martin pursued a career in the nuclear industry, obtaining her senior reactor operator’s certification and working at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona. Seeking to advance her career, she enrolled in Purdue’s online program, attracted by its rigorous curriculum and flexibility. Despite balancing full-time work and studies, Martin found the program’s courses, including those on artificial intelligence, highly relevant and engaging. She credits the support from professors and classmates for her success and looks forward to leveraging her skills to pursue director-level positions in the nuclear field.
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