[Petroleum Engineering](/majors/engineering/petroleum-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for petroleum engineering students.
Finding the Best Value Petroleum Engineering School for You
The petroleum engineering program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Leading the list is The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin, our #1 best value for petroleum engineering in the United States. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,607, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Petroleum Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earn a median of $61,299 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Houston earned it the #2 place for petroleum engineering. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for petroleum engineering graduates is $23,366. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $52,295. That is a strong return on a $23,366 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in petroleum engineering will find it at University Of Wyoming, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,638 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $66,221 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in petroleum engineering will find it at University Of Tulsa, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,546. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Tulsa generally make around $62,482. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in petroleum engineering will find it at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates make about $61,223. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus admits about 77% of applicants.
West Virginia University landed the #6 spot for petroleum engineering value this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates make about $68,913. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana placed #7 among the best values for petroleum engineering. Set in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,289, compared with $26,094 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana generally make around $69,212. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota earned the #8 position for value in petroleum engineering this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates make about $73,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value petroleum engineering schools. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,090 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $80,460. That is a strong return on a $26,090 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #10 position for value in petroleum engineering 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. Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $56,605. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #11 position for value in petroleum engineering this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical student debt for petroleum engineering graduates is $17,239. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $86,761. That is a strong return on a $17,239 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #12 for value in petroleum engineering this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $120,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Marietta College landed the #13 spot for petroleum engineering value this year. Set in the town of Marietta, Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,652. Typical student debt for petroleum engineering graduates is $27,000. 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.
Colorado School Of Mines placed #14 among the best values for petroleum engineering. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Petroleum Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $77,400 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California landed the #15 spot for petroleum engineering value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Soon after graduation, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for value in petroleum engineering this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Typical student debt for petroleum engineering graduates is $22,368. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates make about $85,795. That is a strong return on a $22,368 median debt. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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).
[Petroleum Engineering](/majors/engineering/petroleum-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
