2027 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[Petroleum Engineering](/majors/engineering/petroleum-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value petroleum engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the petroleum engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Petroleum Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Wyoming the best value for a degree in petroleum engineering in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,768 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Students borrow a median of $24,638 to complete the petroleum engineering program here. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates make about $66,221. That is a strong return on a $24,638 median debt. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a great value for students pursuing a degree in petroleum engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public school located in the town of Butte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,289, while out-of-state students pay about $26,094. Petroleum Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Petroleum Engineering graduates of Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana earn a median of $69,212 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in petroleum engineering will find it at Colorado School Of Mines, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, 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. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.