ORISE Report Shows Nuclear Engineering Doctorate Degrees Increase in 2016 While Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees Decline

Number of nuclear engineering doctorate degrees spike to second
highest level in 45 years

OAK RIDGE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–After briefly rebounding in 2015, the number of college students
graduating in nuclear engineering dropped in 2016. This is according to
an annual study conducted by the Oak
Ridge Institute for Science and Education which surveyed 35 U.S.
universities with nuclear engineering programs. The report, titled Nuclear
Engineering Enrollments and Degrees Survey, 2016 Data, includes
degrees granted between Sept. 1, 2015, and Aug. 31, 2016.

Overall number of nuclear engineering degrees decreases

According to the report, 621 students received bachelor’s degrees in
nuclear engineering in 2016—a 5 percent decrease over 2015 and nearly 1
percent lower than 2014. Still, the number of bachelor’s degrees in 2016
remains significantly above the numbers reported in the previous decade
and is 79 percent higher than the number reported in 2006.

The number of nuclear engineering master’s degrees awarded in 2016 fell
by 2 percent over 2015 but is 10 percent higher than the number awarded
in 2014. The 355 master’s degrees awarded in 2016 were greater than the
numbers reported at the beginning of the decade and 66 percent higher
than the number reported in 2006.

The survey data showed that the number of doctorate degrees granted in
2016 increased to 161—a 10 percent increase over 2015. The increase
resumed a trend of increases since 2010 after a one-year decrease in
2015. The number of doctorate degrees awarded in nuclear engineering is
the fourth highest reported since 1966 and the second highest since 1972.

Penn
State University had the largest number of nuclear engineering
degrees awarded in 2016 with 90 bachelor’s degrees, 30 master’s degrees
and 4 doctorate degrees, followed by the University
of Michigan and the University
of Tennessee.

Undergraduate enrollment in nuclear engineering programs increased
from previous year

In 2016, nuclear engineering enrollments for undergraduate students was
up 9 percent above the number reported in 2015 and approaching the
levels reported from 2011 through 2013. Graduate enrollment was similar
to graduate enrollments reported in 2014 and 2015, and nearly 8 percent
higher than the graduate enrollments reported in 2013. The increase in
undergraduate enrollments will likely result in modest increases in the
number of bachelor’s degrees earned over the next year or two. The
number of bachelor’s degrees should remain above 600 in 2017. Graduate
enrollments have rebounded substantially since 2001 but are still below
the numbers reported from the mid-1970s. The continued strength in
graduate enrollment indicates that both the number of master’s degrees
and the number of PhDs awarded in the near future are likely to remain
near the levels of the last three years.

ORISE has collected and/or monitored data on enrollments and degrees in
science and energy-related fields of study for DOE and other federal
agencies since the mid-1970s. View the full report on 2016 data here: Nuclear
Engineering Enrollments and Degrees Survey, 2016 Data.

Contacts

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
Pam Bonee,
865-576-3146
[email protected]