Nuclear Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri S&T's nuclear engineering program starts graduates at nearly $78,000—well above the national median of $73,700 and landing in the 87th percentile nationally. The debt load of $23,350 is manageable, with graduates owing just 30 cents for every dollar earned in their first year. Since this is the only nuclear engineering bachelor's program in Missouri, there's no in-state competition for comparison.

The concerning detail is the earnings trajectory: graduates actually earn about $3,100 less four years into their careers than they did in year one. This backward slide is unusual for engineering disciplines, which typically see strong salary growth early in careers. It's worth noting the sample size here is very small (under 30 graduates), so this dip could reflect individual career choices—like pursuing graduate school or moving into research roles—rather than a systemic program weakness.

For parents, the tradeoff is clear: your child enters the workforce earning more than three-quarters of nuclear engineering graduates nationwide, with reasonable debt. But until we see data from larger graduating classes, the career progression remains uncertain. Given nuclear engineering's specialized nature and limited program availability, Missouri S&T offers solid preparation and market access. Just understand you're looking at initial placement strength rather than proven long-term earnings growth.