by our College Data Analytics Team
[Petroleum Engineering](/majors/engineering/petroleum-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the early-career earnings of their petroleum engineering graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send petroleum engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Tulsa, our #1 for petroleum engineering graduate salaries in the United States. University Of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa. Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Tulsa earn a median of about $104,091 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the highest-paying schools for petroleum engineering. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $121,692.
Texas Tech University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $116,140.
Students chasing top earnings in petroleum engineering will find them at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #4. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school located in the city of College Station. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from Texas A And M University College Station make a median of around $125,028 per year.
Colorado School Of Mines produces some of the highest-paid graduates in petroleum engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Colorado School Of Mines is a public school located in the suburb of Golden. Petroleum Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of about $105,804 a year early in their careers.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana came in at #6 for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a public institution. After graduating, petroleum engineering degree recipients from Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana typically earn about $116,301 annually.
University Of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #7 for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Fairbanks, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution. After graduating, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Alaska Fairbanks typically earn about $87,042 annually.
Marietta College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools. Marietta College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marietta. After graduating, petroleum engineering degree recipients from Marietta College typically earn about $93,979 annually.
University Of Wyoming earned the #9 position for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a public institution. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from University Of Wyoming make a median of around $108,773 per year.
University Of North Dakota placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for petroleum engineering. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,721.
West Virginia University landed the #11 spot for petroleum engineering salaries this year. West Virginia University is a public school located in the city of Morgantown. Petroleum Engineering graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of about $92,874 a year early in their careers.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for petroleum engineering. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Students who complete the petroleum engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,688.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #13 spot for petroleum engineering salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. After graduating, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus typically earn about $100,791 annually.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for petroleum engineering. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a public school located in the city of Odessa. Petroleum Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earn a median of about $99,276 a year early in their careers.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette landed the #15 spot for petroleum engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public institution. After graduating, petroleum engineering degree recipients from University Of Louisiana Lafayette typically earn about $110,398 annually.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #16 spot for petroleum engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College make a median of around $93,513 per year.
University Of Houston placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for petroleum engineering. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a public institution. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from University Of Houston make a median of around $88,652 per year.
University Of Kansas earned the #18 position for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Petroleum Engineering graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of about $93,860 a year early in their careers.
Texas A And M University Kingsville earned the #19 position for petroleum engineering graduate earnings this year. Texas A And M University Kingsville is a public school located in the town of Kingsville. Early-career petroleum engineering graduates from Texas A And M University Kingsville make a median of around $43,257 per year.
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for petroleum engineering. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a public school located in the town of Socorro. Petroleum Engineering graduates of New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology earn a median of about $42,325 a year early in their careers.
Explore the highest-paying petroleum engineering schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries petroleum engineering graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 20 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
