by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 28 U.S. colleges awarded 739 degrees and certificates in General Petroleum Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 56% of graduates. College Factual ranks 16 schools in its 2027 Best General Petroleum Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $68,881 one year after completing, rising to $110,898 after four years.
A major in General Petroleum Engineering explores Petroleum Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Systems For Locating, Extracting, Processing And Refining Crude Petroleum And Natural Gas, Including Prospecting Instruments And Equipment, Mining And Drilling Systems, Processing And Refining Systems And Facilities, Storage Facilities, Transportation Systems, And Related Environmental And Safety Systems.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, general petroleum engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 739 degrees awarded annually. 28 colleges award general petroleum engineering degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 134.
By level, the 739 awards include 416 bachelor’s degrees, 220 master’s degrees and 103 doctorates.
Women earned 21% of general petroleum engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (153 of 739). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (207) and Hispanic or Latino (96), and international students earned 343.
College Factual ranks 16 schools in its 2027 Best General Petroleum Engineering Schools ranking, including 13 for bachelor’s degrees, 8 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks general petroleum engineering schools within 9 states. In all, 28 colleges offer general petroleum engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Petroleum Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general petroleum engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 416 of the 739 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general petroleum engineering call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a general petroleum engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 416 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 220 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 103 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general petroleum engineering, at 34.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 34.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 13.5% |
| Master’s degree | 11.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to General Petroleum Engineering, with an average median salary of $101,941; the strongest outlook belongs to Petroleum Engineers, at 13.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Mechanical Drawing Teacher, Machine Design Teacher, Drawing Instructor and University Faculty Member.
The occupation related to general petroleum engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Petroleum Engineers | 432,291 | 13.1% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
General Petroleum Engineering graduates earn a median $68,881 one year after completing their program, $110,898 after four years and $103,379 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $68,881 |
| 4 years | $110,898 |
| 5 years | $103,379 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to general petroleum engineering, with a median salary of $137,336.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineers | $137,336 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
