As progress for nanotechnology research and development picks up speed, more and more universities in the U. S. are beginning to offer degree programs in nanotechnology. These programs now range from minor and majors in nanotechnology to Masters' programs to PhD's in any number of nanotechnology-related fields.
For those students seeking a higher education at a college or university that doesn’t offer a degree in nanoscience, a student could choose to go into chemistry, physics, engineering, biology, IT, or another technology fields. With the help of a college advisor or a trusted professor or mentor, students can navigate college-level science courses to learn a great deal about nanotechnology. And keep in mind that the further you get in your education, the greater the options and choices that become available to you.
Degree Programs
Below is a list of degree programs, including Bachelors degrees with majors, minors and concentrations; Masters degrees; and PhD programs.
Bachelor Degree Programs
Clarion University – Minor in nanotechnology
Drexel University – BSc Materials Engineering with Specialization Nanotechnology
Excelsior College - B.S. in Electrical Engineering Tech with Nanotechnology concentration
Louisiana Tech University – B.S. in Nanosystems Engineering
Michigan Technological University – Minor program in nanotechnology
Northwestern University – B.S. in Physics with Nanoscale Physics Concentration
Rutgers University — B.S. program in Nanomaterials Science and Engineering
University at Albany College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) – BS in Nanoscale Science and Nanoscale Engineering
University of California, Riverside – B.S. in Chemical Engineering with Nanotechnology Concentration
University of California, San Diego – B.S. Nanoengineering
University of Central Florida – B.S. in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology track in Liberal Studies
University of Maryland, Maryland Nanocenter – Interdisciplinary minor in nanotechnology
University of Tulsa, Institute of Nanotechnology – B.S. with a Specialization in nanotechnology
Pennsylvania State University, Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization, Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology (NMT) Capstone Semester – Minor in nanotechology
Masters Degree Programs
Arizona State University – Professional Science Master (PSM) in Nanoscience and M.A. in Applied Ethics (Ethics and Emerging Technologies)
Johns Hopkins University – M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering with Nanotechnology Option
Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (collaborative project of North Carolina A&T State Univ. and Univ. of North Carolina Greensboro) – M.S. in Nanoscience and M.S. in Nanoengineering
Louisiana Tech University – M.S. in Molecular Sciences and Nanotechnology
North Dakota State University – M.S. in Materials and Nanotechnology
Princeton University — see Rutgers listing for joint program
Radiological Technologies University VT (Indiana) – M.S. in Nanomedicine
Rice University, Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology – Professional Science Master (PSM) in Nanoscale Physics
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and Princeton University- Intergrative Graduate Education Research Traineeship (IGERT) in Nanotechnology for Clean Energy
Singapore-MIT Alliance – M.Eng. Advanced Materials for Micro- and Nano-Systems
Stevens Institute of Technology – M.Eng. with Nanotechnology Concentration and M.S. with Nanotechnology Concentration
University at Albany College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) – Nanoscience/Nanoengineering + MBA program; M.S. degrees with Nanoscale Science and Nanoscale Engineering tracks
University of California, San Diego – M.S. Nanoengineering
Univeristy of New Mexico – M.S. in Nanoscience and Microsystems
University of Pennsylvania – M.S. in Nanotechnology
University of Texas at Austin – MSc Engineering Nanomaterials Thrust
University of Tulsa, Institute of Nanotechnology – M.S. with a Specialization in nanotechnology
Ph.D. Degree Programs
Brown University – Nano/Micromechanics Laboratory
City University of New York, Chemistry Department
California Institute of Technology (CalTech) – Materials and Process Simulation Center
Clemson University – The Laboratory for Nanotechnology
Cornell University – The Nanobiotechnology Center and Cornell Nanofabrication Facility Home Page
Florida Institute of Technology -- Division of Engineering Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology -- Nanocrystal Research Laboratory and Nanostructure Optoelectronics
Iowa State University -- Ames Laboratory Condensed Matter Physics Group (Department of Energy)
Johns Hopkins University – Institute for NanoBioTechnology
Kansas State University -- Visual Quantum Mechanics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- NanoStructures Laboratory
Michigan State University -- The Nanotube Site
New Jersey Institute of Technology -- Nonlinear Nanostructures Laboratory (NNL)
New York University -- Nadrian C. Seeman's Laboratory
North Carolina State University – “NANO@NCState” program
Northeastern University, NSF’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) - Ph.D. in Nanomedicine
Princeton University -- Nanostructure Laboratory
Purdue University -- Graduate Level Courses in Nanoscale Science and Engineering
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute -- Nanostructured Materials
Rice University -- Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology
Seoul National University -- Center for Science in Nanometer Scale, ISRC
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology – Nanoscience and Engineering program
Stanford University -- Stanford Nanofabrication Facility and NanoNet
Stevens Institute of Technology
University at Albany College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE)
University of Arizona -- Nanomechanics and Mesoscopic Physics and
Prof. Srin Manne's AFM Lab
University of Chicago -- University of Chicago Materials Center
University of Cincinnati -- Nanoelectronics Laboratory
University of Connecticut -- Nanobionics Fabrication Facility
University of Delaware -- Department of Chemical Engineering, Center for Molecular Engineering Thermodynamics & The NanoFabrication Facility
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign -- Beckman Institute Home Page and the Micro- and Nanotechnology Laboratory
University of Michigan -- Center for Biologic Nanotechnology
University of Nebraska -- Department of Electrical Engineering, Quantum Device Laboratory
University of New Mexico - Nanoscience and Microsystems
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -- North Carolina Center for Nanoscale Materials and The Nanomanipulator Project
University of North Carolina Greensboro/ North Carolina A&T University Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering
University of North Carolina at Charlotte -- Ph.D. Program in Nanoscale Science
University of Notre Dame -- Center for Nano Science and Technology and Engineering Molecules for a New Technology
University of Southern California -- Laboratory for Molecular Robotics
University of South Florida -- Center for Molecular Design & Recognition
University of Texas at Austin
University of Utah – Certificate in Nanotechnology while earning science field Ph.D.
University of Washington -- Center for Nanotechnology
University of Wisconsin Madison -- Department of Physics: Nanowires Materials Research Science and Engineering Center Seed Project, Magnetic Nanostructures
Virginia Commonwealth University
Washington State University -- Nanotechnology Think Tank
Yale University -- Department of Engineering, Microelectronics and Optoelectronic Materials and Structures
Other Resources
Each summer, the National Nanofabrication Infrastructure Network hosts a Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (NNIN REU) from June to August. Engineering and science students with a genuine interest in nanotechnology are eligible if they are not graduating before the end of the program in August. Also, applicants must be Citizens or Permanent Residents of the United States. Minority and female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.
You can find information about Scholarships, Fellowships, and Postdoc positions on our Funding page.
As the demand grows, new degree programs in the nanotechnology field are continually being developed and launched. If your school or program is not listed here, feel free to contact us at info@nnco.nano.gov. You can also search other education databases such as TryNano.org and Nanowerk.com.
Finally, be sure to investigate schools in your area and see what they offer.