My experience is that someone with a NE degree can always get a job as an HP, but someone with an HP degree can't always get into all of the NE-type jobs (e.g., reactor engineer, NCS Engineer, etc.). If you love HP, and want to focus on that for the rest of your life [and plenty of fine men do], then the HP degree would be fine [and personally rewarding, if you really love the stuff], but the NE degree will get you more milage, money, and opportunities in the long run.
Good luck,
mgm