2026 Best Value General Petroleum Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general petroleum engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Petroleum Engineering Schools
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin tops our 2026 list of the best value general petroleum engineering schools in the United States. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. Students from in state pay about $9,607 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $24,500. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $61,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Wyoming came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general petroleum engineering schools. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,768, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $24,638. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $66,221. Set against $24,638 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
A rank of #3 makes West Virginia University one of the best values for general petroleum engineering. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $68,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general petroleum engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $28,950. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $69,670. Set against $28,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Houston earned it the #5 place for general petroleum engineering. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $23,366 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $52,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette placed #6 among the best values for general petroleum engineering. University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public school located in the city of Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $10,418 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $22,806. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $49,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana came in at #7 for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public school located in the town of Butte. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,289, compared with $26,094 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana generally make around $69,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #8 for value in general petroleum engineering this year. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $24,625. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $61,223. Set against $24,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Marietta College came in at #9 for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Located in the town of Marietta, Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,652 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of Marietta College earn a median of $82,205 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marietta College admits about 79% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #10 among the best values for general petroleum engineering. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,239 in student loans. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $86,761. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota placed #11 among the best values for general petroleum engineering. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,951 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $73,821. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #12 spot for general petroleum engineering value this year. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $25,750. Early-career general petroleum engineering graduates make about $56,605. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Texas Tech University landed the #13 spot for general petroleum engineering value this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $26,090 to complete the general petroleum engineering program here. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $80,460 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,090 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #14 for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. General Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $69,603. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
University Of Tulsa came in at #15 for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,546. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $27,000. General Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Tulsa earn a median of $66,166 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #16 for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Typical student debt for general petroleum engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general petroleum engineering degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines generally make around $77,400. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #17 for value in general petroleum engineering this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Other General Petroleum Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Petroleum Engineering rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
[General Petroleum Engineering](/majors/engineering/petroleum-engineering/general-petroleum-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general petroleum engineering education at a price that pays off.
