[Mining & Petroleum Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/mining-petroleum-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mining & petroleum technology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mining & petroleum technology students.
Finding the Best Value Mining & Petroleum Technology School for You
The right mining & petroleum technology school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Mining & Petroleum Technology Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Mining & Petroleum Technology Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Western Texas College earned the #1 spot for value among mining & petroleum technology schools in the United States. Western Texas College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Snyder. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mining & petroleum technology graduates is $8,691. Mining & Petroleum Technology graduates of Western Texas College earn a median of $68,077 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes West Virginia Northern Community College one of the best values for mining & petroleum technology. Located in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia Northern Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,706, while out-of-state students pay about $12,698. Students borrow a median of $11,528 to complete the mining & petroleum technology program here. Early-career mining & petroleum technology graduates make about $37,542. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value mining & petroleum technology schools. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public school located in the town of Olney. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,260, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Mining & Petroleum Technology graduates carry a median of $9,434 in student loans. Mining & Petroleum Technology graduates of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College earn a median of $38,331 early in their careers. Set against $9,434 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in mining & petroleum technology will find it at L E Fletcher Technical Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Schriever, L E Fletcher Technical Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,219. Mining & Petroleum Technology graduates carry a median of $5,396 in student loans. Early-career mining & petroleum technology graduates make about $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Louisiana Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value mining & petroleum technology schools. Located in the city of Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,210. Students borrow a median of $12,435 to complete the mining & petroleum technology program here. Early-career mining & petroleum technology graduates make about $38,854. That is a strong return on a $12,435 median debt.
Nicholls State University landed the #6 spot for mining & petroleum technology value this year. Set in the city of Thibodaux, Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,149 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,242. Mining & Petroleum Technology graduates carry a median of $18,987 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mining & petroleum technology degree recipients from Nicholls State University generally make around $58,199. That is a strong return on a $18,987 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Lackawanna College landed the #7 spot for mining & petroleum technology value this year. Lackawanna College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,400. Typical student debt for mining & petroleum technology graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, mining & petroleum technology degree recipients from Lackawanna College generally make around $63,377. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Narrow Mining & Petroleum Technology Schools by Region
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Mining & Petroleum Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/mining-petroleum-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mining & petroleum technology education at a price that pays off.
