The program was one of the first of its kind in the country, and civilians and military personnel flocked to the Institute to learn about nuclear weapons and propulsion. Today the department focuses on creating a broad range of nuclear engineering applications that improve human and environmental health. MIT researchers conducted one of the first studies on nuclear reactors for large-scale electricity generation in 1953. Today we are working to make nuclear power the safest, most economical, and most environmentally friendly way of generating electricity. Despite having roots at MIT that span more than 60 years, nuclear engineering is relatively new compared to other engineering disciplines, and its many applications will benefit society in areas from healthcare and radiation detection to space exploration and advanced materials. Our community members make key scientific and engineering advances in fission engineering and nuclear energy, fusion and plasma physics, and nuclear science and technology. We conduct research to support the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor project and collaborate with experts throughout industry and academia. Nuclear engineers work with nuclear energy, nuclear waste, medical physics and more. They may also be active in design and nuclear research. These are the top graduate schools for nuclear engineering programs. Each school's score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions.
