2027 Best Value Mining & Petroleum Technology Schools in the Southeast Region

[Mining & Petroleum Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/mining-petroleum-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mining & petroleum technology students.
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2027 Best Value Mining & Petroleum Technology Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mining & petroleum technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mining & Petroleum Technology Schools
West Virginia Northern Community College earned the #1 spot for value among mining & petroleum technology schools in the Southeast Region. West Virginia Northern Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Wheeling. Students from in state pay about $4,706 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,698. Typical student debt for mining & petroleum technology graduates is $11,528. Soon after graduation, mining & petroleum technology degree recipients from West Virginia Northern Community College generally make around $37,542. Set against $11,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
L E Fletcher Technical Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value mining & petroleum technology schools. Located in the rural area of Schriever, L E Fletcher Technical Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,219. Mining & Petroleum Technology graduates carry a median of $5,396 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mining & petroleum technology degree recipients from L E Fletcher Technical Community College generally make around $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in mining & petroleum technology will find it at South Louisiana Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,210 in tuition and fees. Mining & Petroleum Technology graduates carry a median of $12,435 in student loans. Mining & Petroleum Technology graduates of South Louisiana Community College earn a median of $38,854 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,435 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nicholls State University earned it the #4 place for mining & petroleum technology. Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Thibodaux. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,149, with out-of-state students paying around $9,242. Typical student debt for mining & petroleum technology graduates is $18,987. Early-career mining & petroleum technology graduates make about $58,199. Set against $18,987 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.