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Power reactor operator education requirements
There are several educational requirements to become a power reactor operator. Power reactor operators usually study mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, or automotive technology. 83% of power reactor operators hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 21 real power reactor operator resumes to see exactly what power reactor operator education sections show.
The most common colleges for power reactor operators are the Idaho State University and the Idaho State University.
There are also many online power reactor operator courses to help get the education required to be a power reactor operator.
What education do you need to become a power reactor operator?
What degree do you need to be a power reactor operator?
- Bachelor's, 83%
- Associate, 17%
What should I major in to become a power reactor operator?
- Nuclear Engineering, 12%
- Other Majors, 58%
Most common colleges for power reactor operators
| Power reactor operator common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Idaho State University | 18.18% |
| University of Wisconsin - Madison | 9.09% |
| Maine Maritime Academy | 9.09% |
| Old Dominion University | 9.09% |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | 9.09% |
Best majors for power reactor operators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Engineering | 11.8% |
| 2 | Nuclear Engineering | 11.8% |
| 3 | Automotive Technology | 11.8% |
| 4 | Nuclear And Industrial Radiologic Technologies | 5.9% |
| 5 | Biology | 5.9% |
Best colleges for power reactor operators
The best colleges for power reactor operators are Northwestern University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
A power reactor 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 power reactor 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 power reactor operators.
1. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
3. Texas A&M University
College Station, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$11,870
Enrollment
53,194
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
5. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
6. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
7. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,620
Enrollment
27,730
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
10. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
20 best online courses for power reactor operators
1. Electrical Power Equipment
Learn how electrical equipments operate and how they fit together into a network...
2. Ultimate Power Electronics and Electrical Protection Bundle
The largest and most comprehensive bundle on power electronics and electrical protection for electrical engineering...
3. Electrical Control & Protection Systems
This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...
4. Electrical Power Engineering Principles
Learn all the basic theories and principles of electrical engineering...
5. Operating Systems Final Part (4): File Systems & Threads
Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...
6. Operating Systems Part 3: Synchronization and Deadlock
Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...
7. Operating Systems from scratch - Part 2
Learn memory management in operating systems as operating system forms the core of computer science...
8. Ultimate Electricity Generation, HV, and Substations Bundle
This electrical engineering bundle consists of electrical substations, high voltage, and electricity generation courses...
9. Electricity for Electronics, Electrical Engineering A-Z 2023
Fundamentals of Electricity & Electric Circuits for Electronics - Circuit Design - Electrical Engineering...
10. Data Center Essentials: Power & Electrical
The power & electrical systems that support data centers and the internet...
11. Operating Systems from scratch - Part 1
Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...
12. MBA: Supply Chain and Operation management
Tactics, Tools, and Techniques required to become a Supply chain and operation manager...
13. Reactive Programming in Modern Java using Project Reactor
Learn to write fast performing Asynchronous and Non Blocking code using the Reactive Programming principles and Reactor...
14. Heat Exchangers: Design , Operation & Maintenance
A complete understanding of construction details , functionning and design of heat exchangers for successful operation...
15. Electrical Control & Protection Systems part 2
This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...
16. Centrifugal pumps: Principles , Operation and Design
A complete understanding of construction details and functioning of centrifugal pumps for successful plant operation...
17. Electrical Control & Protection Part 4
This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical network...
18. Operations Management in small businesses: key techniques
A toolkit for making small business operations effective and efficient...
19. Electrical Engineering: Power Electronics Masterclass
Further your knowledge in power engineering by learning to design rectifiers, dc-to-dc converters, and inverters...
20. The Complete Basic Electricity & Electronics Course
Learn how Electricity, Electronic Components and Circuits work. Join over 5,000 happy students!...
Top 10 most affordable universities for power reactor operators
The most affordable schools for power reactor operators are United States Merchant Marine Academy, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.
If the best universities for power reactor 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 power reactor operators.
1. United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$1,080
Cost of attendance
6,646
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
4. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
5. Brigham Young University - Idaho
Rexburg, ID • Private
In-state tuition
$4,118
Cost of attendance
12,223
6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
9. New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$6,686
Cost of attendance
17,885
10. New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,120
Cost of attendance
13,997
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for power reactor operators
The hardest universities for power reactor operators to get into are Northwestern University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
Some great schools for power reactor 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 power reactor 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. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,545
3. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
5. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
7. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
8. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,465
9. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,448
10. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for power reactor operators
The easiest schools for power reactor operators to get into are Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington, cleveland state university, and oregon institute of technology.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a power reactor 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 power reactor operators.
1. Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington
New Kensington, PA • Private
Admissions rate
80%
SAT average
1,091
2. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,111
3. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
4. Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
1,070
5. Washington State University
Pullman, WA • Private
Admissions rate
77%
SAT average
1,123
6. Brigham Young University - Idaho
Rexburg, ID • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,140
7. SUNY College of Technology at Canton
Canton, NY • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
997
8. Middle Georgia State University
Macon, GA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
980
9. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
Admissions rate
46%
SAT average
1,091
10. Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
1,022
Average power reactor operator salary by education level
| Power reactor operator education level | Power reactor operator salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $49,570 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $59,436 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $53,124 |
Power reactor operator education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
