Online Master of Nuclear Engineering

Purdue is Ranked #3 Online Masters Engineering Program! U.S. News & World Report, 2024
100% Online Learn at Your Own Pace!

Purdue University's online graduate program, Master of Nuclear Engineering (MNE) is conveniently designed for professional engineers, technician and scientists looking to advance their skills without disrupting their careers. Prospective learners can plan the pace of study based on their convenience and choice of course work. There is also a Nuclear Engineering concentration within Purdue's Online Interdisciplinary Master's in Engineering (MSE/MS).

The online graduate program courses are taught by the same world-renowned faculty who teach on campus at Purdue University.

Purdue University's online graduate engineering program is consistently ranked in the top ten programs by U.S. News and World Report. Purdue’s Nuclear Engineering graduate program also achieved a top ranking from U.S. News and World Report.

Why earn your Master's Degree of Nuclear Engineering?

Purdue’s online Master of Nuclear Engineering degree (MNE) is suitable for practicing engineers, scientist and others seeking to enhance their skills and gain knowledge, while continuing in their professional career. Students can earn an MNE by completing 30 credits of online coursework or by completing a six-credit hour project course in addition to 24-credits of coursework. The School of Nuclear Engineering educates ethical nuclear engineers to provide technical expertise to nuclear engineering communities around the world, expand the frontier of knowledge through cutting-edge and innovative research in all areas of nuclear engineering, and dynamically engage with global society through strong partnerships.

Obtaining a Master of Nuclear Engineering degree online at Purdue offers a unique blend of flexibility, accessibility, and specialized knowledge crucial in today's energy landscape. With increasing global interest in nuclear power as a sustainable energy source, coupled with advancements in reactor technologies and safety protocols, this degree equips individuals with the expertise needed to tackle complex challenges in nuclear engineering. Through online platforms, students can access our top-tier faculty, cutting-edge research and industry-relevant coursework, while maintaining their professional and personal commitments. Moreover, as the demand for skilled nuclear engineers grows, graduates with this degree are well-positioned to pursue diverse career opportunities spanning power generation, environmental remediation, medical applications, and beyond. Thus, investing in an online Master of Nuclear Engineering degree not only fosters personal and professional growth but also contributes to addressing global energy needs and environmental sustainability.

Curriculum

This degree requires 30 credit hours total with at least 18 hours of Purdue graduate nuclear engineering courses. A maximum of 12 credit hours courses can be taken in any engineering and science including math and statistics.

30 credit hours are required to complete the online MNE.

MNE Degree Requirements 30 Credits
Purdue Online Nuclear Engineering Graduate Courses 18 Credit Hours
Elective Courses (Purdue Online Engineering & Science Graduate Courses) 12 Credit Hours or 6 Credits Hours and 6 Credits Project

After you begin your studies at Purdue, an academic advisor will provide you with tools to map out a plan of study and help you define a concentration tailored to align with your specific goals. Your academic advisor will also help you identify a faculty advisor if needed for a project.

Master of Nuclear Engineering Sample Plan of Study

The NE online master’s program offers a wide range of flexibility in course options. After you begin your studies at Purdue, an academic advisor will help you create a Plan of Study (POS) to best fit your educational needs and career goals. Every POS varies based on student interest, time, and course load. Click here to view the the Master of Nuclear Engineering (MNE) POS.

Admission Requirements

Criteria For Admissions

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines

Fall Term:

  • July 5

Spring Term:

  • November 5

Further details can be found on the graduate requirements page.

Tuition

Resident of Indiana

  • $1,139 per credit*

Nonresident of Indiana

  • $1,459 per credit*

Domestic students and permanent residents may qualify for the following types of financial aid:

  • US federal financial aid
  • Military, veterans, and military-connected students

    • *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.

Further information available.


Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can access the same remote resources as on-campus students, including memberships, software downloads, organizations, etc. However, you would not have access to on-campus benefits like sports facilities or healthcare, since you do not pay the appropriate student fees to access them.

A leader in online graduate studies in engineering, Purdue has been offering distance degrees for engineers since the late 1960s. Purdue's engineering programs have been accredited by ABET, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, which means its programs have been thoroughly vetted and documented by objective third parties. Additionally, our graduate programs have been accredited with the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) since 1913.

The courses will be offered asynchronously. We upload recordings of live lectures for you to view on your time. You will follow along weekly to complete your assignments, projects, and/or exams. Exams may require a proctor (virtual or in-person depending on the faculty).

Yes! You are welcome to visit the West Lafayette campus in-person, as well as virtually. Please note that faculty and staff tend to be very busy, so if you want to see specific people you need to reach out to them and make arrangements beforehand!

Yes, students will have access through the Purdue Center for Career Opportunities (CCO). Here are links for more information on career services and resources:

You will have to satisfy SNE transfer requirements, including GPA requirements and submission of GRE scores.  To transfer into thesis-track program, you’ll also need to find a SNE research advisor and funding support. (A research advisor is not needed for transfer into the MS-NE Program.)

No. Online MS program students are in the non-thesis track.

Yes, you may complete the MSNE program as a full-time or part-time student. The program requires 30-credits. A full-time student takes at least 8 semester credit hours every term and may be able to complete this program within 12 to 18 months. A part-time student takes less than 8 semester credit hours every term (on average 3-6). As a part-time student, you may complete the program within 2 to 4 years. The average time to complete the program is 3 years.

Please visit the admission criteria page for information.

Scholarships and funding are not available through Purdue, this program is a course-based self-funded master's program. US Citizens and Permanent Residents are eligible for Federal Financial Aid. All federal financial aid benefits and restrictions apply to enrolled students. Federal aid enrollment requirements apply. You can reach the Purdue Division of Financial Aid with questions at https://www.purdue.edu/dfa/.

We suggest that you try to get at least one academic reference. If that is not possible, recommendations from employers will be accepted.

You may take a maximum of two consecutive semesters off. If you take more than two semesters, you will need to reapply to the program.

The program requires 30-credits. You may complete the program as a full-time or part-time student. A full-time student takes at least 8 semester credit hours every term and may be able to complete this program within 12 to 18 months. A part-time student takes less than 8 semester credit hours every term (on average 3-6). As a part-time student, you may complete the program within 2 to 4 years. The average time to complete the program is 3 years.

No, all courses are not available every term. You can see our course availability on the Courses List page.

You need to register for at least one credit to be considered an active student. If you do not enroll for more than two consecutive semesters, you will lose your student status and must reapply.

You would earn a Master of Nuclear Engineering from Purdue University, the same as our residential program students. Your diploma will not indicate you earned your degree online.

Meet Tetyana Martin, MNE Alumni

nuclear engineering online master's program graduate Tetyana Martin

What motivated you to pursue a Master's degree in nuclear at Purdue?

What motivated me is I always wanted an engineering degree. Working at a nuclear power plant, in order to make each the director level, you had to have a technical degree. Because I worked full time, I looked for an online program. I'm a learner, I wanted to expand my knowledge and invest in a good program. When I heard Purdue had a new program in Nuclear Engineering, I applied in Fall 2021, making me one of the first graduating students.

Did the program help to nurture your knowledge in your career?

The program expanded my horizons and gave me fresh, new technical knowledge that I wouldn't have gotten at the plant, that is very relevant to my career. Additionally, there are interesting classes, and I learned a lot. The program helped me become more balanced and knowledgeable, where I can now ask better questions as a leader. My diploma will definitely help me with my career and open doors to go to director level positions.

In what ways has the program helped you apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges in the field of nuclear engineering?

There are three classes on artificial intelligence. I took two and it is different and not what I expected, and I really learned something new and relevant to what we are doing because AI is here to stay.