Raleigh is a really nice smaller city with lots to do. It is also about 3 hours from the ocean and the mountains (in opposite directions) Duke energy has a presence in Raleigh and is headquartered in Charlotte (NC) so there are good job opportunities. Also GE has fuel fabrication in Wilmington...
North Carolina state has excellent faculty in Plasma physics/ fusion technology. Also they are expanding their nuclear materials faculty. I got my MS from there and they do cater to people from other disciplines; the even have a course for people with non-nuclear bachelors degree holders.