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2023 Best Value Colleges for Petroleum Engineering (Income $48-$75k)

22 Ranked Colleges
1,256 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in petroleum engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality petroleum engineering programs that also have a lower cost than 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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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

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 $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Petroleum Engineering (Income $48-$75k)

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Austin. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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. It costs about $16,134 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend The University of Texas at Austin.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 full report on Petroleum Engineering at UT Austin

2

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 #2 for the Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized public school situated in Rolla, Missouri. It awarded 34 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri University of Science and Technology, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri University of Science and Technology is $11,656 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Petroleum Engineering Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k. Texas A&M College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 195 ’s petroleum engineering degrees to qualified students.

Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. It costs about $17,525 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Texas A&M College Station.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University - College Station

4
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University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wyoming. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. UW is a fairly large school located in Laramie, Wyoming that handed out 41 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UW also took the #16 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $9,394 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UW.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 full report on Petroleum Engineering at University of Wyoming

5
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University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 21 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, USC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern California is $22,826 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Southern California Petroleum Engineering Report

6
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University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. UND is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 53 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, UND has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $15,818 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UND.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at University of North Dakota

7
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University of Houston
Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 ’s petroleum engineering degrees to qualified students.

UH also made our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend University of Houston is $13,382 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 UH

8
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West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 74 ’s petroleum engineering degrees 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 $13,077 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full West Virginia University Petroleum Engineering Report

9
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Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

Colorado School of Mines came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. 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 also took the #4 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mines is $24,461 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at Mines

10

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Odessa, Texas, and it awarded 28 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Permian Basin, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $10,549 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UT Permian Basin.

Full The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Petroleum Engineering Report

11

With a ranking of #11, Montana Technological University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k list. Montana Technological University 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.

Montana Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Montana Tech is $16,499 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at Montana Tech

12
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Texas Tech is a large public school situated in Lubbock, Texas. It awarded 50 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $15,248 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Texas Tech.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Texas Tech Petroleum Engineering Report

13

University of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Fairbanks, Alaska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s petroleum engineering degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

UAF also made our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for UAF is $11,587 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at University of Alaska Fairbanks

14
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University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma

University of Tulsa did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 50 diplomas to qualified ’s petroleum engineering students in 2020-2021.

University of Tulsa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. It costs about $21,541 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Tulsa.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full University of Tulsa Petroleum Engineering Report

15

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a large public school situated in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It awarded 74 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Louisiana State University, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $19,623 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Louisiana State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Petroleum Engineering Report

16
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Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Mississippi State University is a public institution located in Mississippi State, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Mississippi State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $18,449 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Mississippi State.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Mississippi State University Petroleum Engineering Report

17
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s petroleum engineering degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.

KU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. It costs about $18,586 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend KU.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Petroleum Engineering at University of Kansas

18

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Socorro, New Mexico, and it awarded 24 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

New Mexico Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. It costs about $15,379 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Petroleum Engineering at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

19

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Norman, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s petroleum engineering degrees to 84 students in 2020-2021.

University of Oklahoma also took the #6 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma is $21,725 for Petroleum Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Oklahoma Petroleum Engineering Report

20

Texas A&M University - Kingsville landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Kingsville, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s petroleum engineering degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

Texas A&M Kingsville also made our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - Kingsville is $13,939 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. University of Louisiana at 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” list. It costs about $14,322 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UL Lafayette.

Full University of Louisiana at Lafayette Petroleum Engineering Report

22
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Marietta College
Marietta, Ohio

Marietta College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Marietta, Ohio. It awarded 35 ’s petroleum engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Marietta also took the #20 spot in our “Best Petroleum Engineering Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Marietta is $17,821 for petroleum engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 full report on Petroleum Engineering at Marietta College

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