Nuclear Engineering at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,657/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Medium (19,400 openings/yr)
ROI 16.4x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #2 of 9 Nuclear Engineering programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Nuclear Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $867K $827K $717K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.2x 16.4x 14.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.2x 5.9x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,376
Out-of-state: $139,776 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$70,888
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$94,372
35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $69,657 track close to the $72,611 national median for Nuclear Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Nuclear Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Nuclear Engineering's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 17% gap from the optimistic case.

At $27,000 in median debt against $69,657 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

This program is one of 9 schools offering Nuclear Engineering in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

Earnings grow from $69,657 to $94,372 over five years — a 35% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

With a 68% acceptance rate, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 1,054 students in Bend, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Nuclear engineers $127,520/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Nuclear Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Nuclear Engineering at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?
A score of 69/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Nuclear Engineering field.
Will AI replace Nuclear Engineering careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $717,166 in decade earnings vs $866,970 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Nuclear Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #2 of 9 programs nationally, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →