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Nuclear station operator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a nuclear station operator. Nuclear station operators usually study nuclear and industrial radiologic technologies, business, or general studies. 35% of nuclear station operators hold a bachelor's degree, and 30% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 39 real nuclear station operator resumes to see exactly what nuclear station operator education sections show.

The most common colleges for nuclear station operators are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.

There are also many online nuclear station operator courses to help get the education required to be a nuclear station operator.

What education do you need to become a nuclear station operator?

What degree do you need to be a nuclear station operator?

The most common degree for nuclear station operators is bachelor's degree, with 35% of nuclear station operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 30% and associate degree degree at 15%.
  • Bachelor's, 35%
  • Associate, 30%
  • High School Diploma, 15%
  • Master's, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 15%

What should I major in to become a nuclear station operator?

You should major in nuclear and industrial radiologic technologies to become a nuclear station operator. 8% of nuclear station operators major in nuclear and industrial radiologic technologies. Other common majors for a nuclear station operator include business and general studies.

Most common colleges for nuclear station operators

Nuclear station operators often get their degrees at Purdue University, Miracosta College, and Beloit College. Here are the most common colleges for nuclear station operators in the US based on their resumes.
Nuclear station operator common collegePercentages
Purdue University12.50%
Miracosta College6.25%
Beloit College6.25%
Cleveland Institute of Art6.25%
Florida State University6.25%

Best majors for nuclear station operators

Best colleges for nuclear station operators

The best colleges for nuclear station operators are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Johns Hopkins University.

A nuclear station operator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for nuclear station operators. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become nuclear station operators.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

3. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

6. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

8. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

9. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$53,880

Enrollment

6,590

10. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

20 best online courses for nuclear station operators

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Top 10 most affordable universities for nuclear station operators

The most affordable schools for nuclear station operators are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and city college of new york of the city university of new york, the.

If the best universities for nuclear station operators are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for nuclear station operators.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

4. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

8. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

9. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

10. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for nuclear station operators

The hardest universities for nuclear station operators to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for nuclear station operators are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for nuclear station operators based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

6. Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,488

7. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN • Private

Admissions rate

18%

SAT average

1,502

10. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for nuclear station operators

The easiest schools for nuclear station operators to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, pennsylvania state university - dubois, and university of the incarnate word.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a nuclear station operator without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for nuclear station operators.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois

DuBois, PA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,079

3. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

4. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

5. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

6. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

7. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

8. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

9. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

10. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

Average nuclear station operator salary by education level

According to our data, nuclear station operators with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $59,240 annually. Nuclear station operators with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $50,881.
Nuclear station operator education levelNuclear station operator salary
High School Diploma or Less$46,325
Bachelor's Degree$59,240
Some College/ Associate Degree$50,881

Nuclear station operator education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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