Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program

Get paid as an E-6 while you finish your degree (about $6,300+/month in Milwaukee), then lead sailors aboard nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.

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What is NUPOC?

A program for college students pursuing technical degrees to become Naval Officers in the Nuclear Propulsion community. You receive E-6 pay and benefits while you finish school. Pay can start as early as second-semester freshman year and continues through a fifth-year combined bachelor's/master's if your university has one. Then you commission as an officer.

Five career paths are available depending on your GPA and medical qualification, from submarine and carrier operations to instructor and engineering roles.

View all career paths and training pipelines →
Why Nuclear?

Nuclear-powered vessels can operate submerged for months or steam continuously for years without refueling. As a Nuclear Officer, you'll gain unparalleled technical expertise and leadership responsibility.

The training and experience open doors to exceptional civilian careers in nuclear power, engineering, and executive leadership.

Read a firsthand account →

Pay & Benefits

E-6 pay and benefits while you're still in college

Bonus by Path

$35k submarines, $25k nuclear SWO, $20k prototype instructor and NR engineer, $0 Power School instructor

$6,300+/mo Milwaukee

E-6 pay while you finish school. Housing allowance varies by city.

Full Healthcare

Complete medical and dental coverage for you and family

Housing Allowance

Tax-free Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) based on your location

Monthly Pay Breakdown (E6 with 2+ years)

$3,497
Base Pay
$1,800+
Housing Allowance (tax-free, varies by location)
$400+
Food Allowance (tax-free) & Other Benefits
$6,300+ Total
Milwaukee-area example while you finish school (E-6 + housing + food). Housing allowance varies by location.

Service commitment: 5 years active duty for Submarine and Surface officers, 3-5 years for Instructor and Engineer roles. After your commitment, transition to a civilian career with world-class nuclear training and leadership experience.

Financial Advantage

NUPOC vs. traditional engineering paths

Annual Earnings Comparison
NUPOC vs Regular Engineering Student (Annual Income)
Cumulative Earnings
Total earnings over time (including path signing bonus (up to $35K for submarines))
Referral Bonus Impact
Additional earnings when you refer another successful NUPOC candidate
$210,800
Financial advantage by graduation
NUPOC students earn while regular students accumulate debt
$6,000+
Annual referral bonus
Extra pay after successfully referring a candidate
5+ Years
Head start on career
Leadership experience while peers are still in entry-level roles

Program Requirements

What it takes to join the nuclear Navy

Basic Requirements
  • U.S. Citizen
  • Age 19-29 at time of commissioning
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, math, physics, or chemistry
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA (3.3+ preferred)
  • Strong performance in calculus and calculus-based physics
  • Pass Navy physical fitness standards
  • Obtain security clearance
  • Complete Officer Candidate School (OCS)
Ideal Candidates
  • Engineering majors (all disciplines)
  • Physics or Applied Physics
  • Mathematics or Applied Mathematics
  • Chemistry or Chemical Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Strong academic performance (3.5+ GPA)
  • Leadership experience
  • Technical aptitude and problem-solving skills