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2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

22 Ranked Colleges
1,256 Degrees Awarded
$12,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 1,256 people earned their degree in petroleum engineering, making the major the 223rd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, petroleum engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $83,917 and had an average of $25,780 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in petroleum engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent petroleum engineering programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the petroleum engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for petroleum engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Petroleum Engineering (Income $0-$30k)

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A&M University - College Station. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas A&M University - College Station is a large public school situated in College Station, Texas. It awarded 195 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M College Station is $11,220 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University - College Station

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s petroleum engineering degrees to 123 students in 2020-2021.

UT Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UT Austin is $13,753 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

3
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Southern California is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 21 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

USC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $17,287 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Southern California.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full USC Petroleum Engineering Report

4

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and it awarded 74 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Louisiana State University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Louisiana State University is $11,318 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Rolla, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 34 degrees to qualified ’s petroleum engineering students in 2020-2021.

Missouri University of Science and Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology is $7,356 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

6
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University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 53 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $12,394 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at University of North Dakota

7
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University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

University of Wyoming ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wyoming is a public institution located in Laramie, Wyoming. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UW also took the #16 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wyoming is $6,905 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UW Petroleum Engineering Report

8
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Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

Colorado School of Mines ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Colorado School of Mines is located in Golden, Colorado and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 86 ’s petroleum engineering degrees to qualified students.

Mines did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mines is $16,977 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Mines Petroleum Engineering Report

9
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Morgantown, West Virginia, this large public school awarded 74 diplomas to qualified ’s petroleum engineering students in 2020-2021.

WVU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend West Virginia University is $10,014 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at WVU

10
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school handed out 50 diplomas to qualified ’s petroleum engineering students in 2020-2021.

Texas Tech also made our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech University is $9,031 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at Texas Tech University

11
University of Tulsa crest
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma

University of Tulsa ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Tulsa is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s petroleum engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Tulsa, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Tulsa is $19,529 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at University of Tulsa

12

Montana Technological University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Montana Tech is located in Butte, Montana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s petroleum engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Montana Tech, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Montana Tech is $11,954 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at Montana Technological University

13
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 56 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $10,533 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at University of Houston

14

University of Alaska Fairbanks did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. University of Alaska Fairbanks is a medium-sized school located in Fairbanks, Alaska that handed out 6 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UAF also took the #19 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Alaska Fairbanks is $6,880 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at UAF

15

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UT Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s petroleum engineering degrees to qualified students.

UT Permian Basin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. It costs about $8,795 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

16
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mississippi State, Mississippi is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s petroleum engineering degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

Mississippi State also made our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Mississippi State is $13,025 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at Mississippi State

17

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution located in Norman, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 84 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Oklahoma, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $16,103 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Oklahoma.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

18
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

With a ranking of #18, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified ’s petroleum engineering students in 2020-2021.

KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend KU is $15,666 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at KU

19

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. New Mexico Tech is a public institution located in Socorro, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

New Mexico Tech also made our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is $9,697 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at New Mexico Tech

20

Texas A&M University - Kingsville ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Kingsville, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified ’s petroleum engineering students in 2020-2021.

Texas A&M Kingsville also made our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $10,240 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas A&M Kingsville.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M Kingsville

21

University of Louisiana at Lafayette did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. UL Lafayette is located in Lafayette, Louisiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s petroleum engineering degrees to qualified students.

UL Lafayette also made our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for University of Louisiana at Lafayette is $9,990 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UL Lafayette Petroleum Engineering Report

22
Marietta crest
Marietta College
Marietta, Ohio

Marietta College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Marietta, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 35 degrees to qualified ’s petroleum engineering students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marietta, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Marietta is $14,833 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at Marietta

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Notes and References

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