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Nuclear Engineering at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $73,724/yr (2% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Medium (19,400 openings/yr)

ROI 15.1x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #1 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	$853K	$815K	$708K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.8x	15.1x	13.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.7x	6.4x	5.5x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	66%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	70	69	66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$53,936

Out-of-state: $127,896 (6.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,436

-34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,500

3.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$94,044

28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Nuclear Engineering program produces graduates earning $73,724/yr — within striking distance of the $72,611 national average for this field.

The 15.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,500 in median debt clears quickly against $73,724 in annual earnings.

With only 9 programs offering Nuclear Engineering nationally, this is a niche field. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville ranks #1 among them.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $73,724 to $94,044 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's 46% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 28,763 in Knoxville, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →

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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Nuclear Engineering program score?

This program scores 69/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Nuclear Engineering graduates.

How vulnerable is Nuclear Engineering to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Nuclear Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville rank so high for Nuclear Engineering?

The #1 ranking out of 9 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →